Are Ring Doorbells Worth It? Everything You Need To Know…
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There’s been a lot of hype about Ring Video Doorbells over the last couple of years. You probably have some friends or family members who swear by them. But, what’s it all about? Is it really worth the trouble? Not sure you want to spend the money?
I think most people purchase video doorbells as a novelty at first. It isn’t until you actually own one, that you realize how important they are to have. This is especially true if you prioritize the safety and security of your home. With Ring Doorbells, you can protect your house from vandals, burglars, and package thieves. If nothing else, it gives you a sense of confidence that your home is safe while you’re away.
We’re going to cover everything you need to know and let you be the judge. These are The Most Frequently Asked Questions as they pertain to Ring Video Doorbells and whether they’re even worth it.
Are Ring Doorbells Wireless?
Ring offers both wired and wireless Video Doorbells. The Ring Doorbell 1, 2 and 3 all run off rechargeable batteries, but they can be hooked up to your existing doorbell wiring if you choose. The Ring Video Doorbell Pro and Ring Video Doorbell Elite must be hardwired. All of the Ring Doorbells and Ring Cams hook up to your WiFi except the Ring Doorbell Elite which requires an Ethernet connection.
As far as wirelessly alerting you someone is at the door, your video doorbell will be connected to the internet via your wifi. A push notification will alert you immediately on your phone that someone is at your door. If you have Alexa in your home she will also chime. Lastly, you can purchase an inexpensive WiFi doorbell chime to place anywhere in the home you choose.
So, in short, it depends on which model you choose and how you decide to hook it up. For more information on which model you should choose, check out their Ring Doorbell Buyer’s Guide.
Can Any Ring Doorbell Be Hardwired Into Your Existing Doorbell?
While you don’t necessarily need to hardwire your Ring Doorbell, you certainly can. Your can hardwire any Video Doorbell that Ring has to offer. Again, both the Ring Pro and the Elite will require it. If you do decide to hardwire the Ring 1, 2 or 3, the connection will most likely keep your video doorbell sufficiently charged.
That being said, I have not hardwired mine and I’m perfectly content using it wirelessly. The battery holds a charge for quite a while. There are a lot of factors that will affect the time in between charging though. The number one of those being your preferred settings. It isn’t unrealistic to say that you’ll get about 6 months out of a charge.
| Image | Title | Power Options | Price | Prime | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Top Top Top Top | Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus | Quick-release rechargeable battery plus the option to hardwire | PrimeEligible | View on Amazon | |
 Top Top Top | Ring Video Doorbell Pro | Hardwire to existing doorbell | PrimeEligible | View on Amazon | |
 | Ring Video Doorbell Elite | Requires Ethernet cable connection | PrimeEligible | No Results |
How Waterproof Is the Ring Video Doorbell?
Ring Video Doorbells aren’t technically waterproof because that would mean that they can be submerged in water without damaging the device. Ring Doorbells are, however, sufficiently weather resistant and can withstand the elements.
Wait, so can the Ring Doorbell Get Wet?
This device would be pretty useless if you had to take it off and bring it inside every time it rained, so this is a valid question. Don’t worry, that isn’t the case at all. Let’s be clear, the Ring Doorbells are completely well enough protected and designed to be able to get wet. In Ring’s words they “can withstand high wind and rainstorms“. If you drop it in a bucket of water though, you might have a problem.
It is helpful that many residences have an awning or some sort of overhead protection. I have, however, used a Ring Doorbell on one of my houses that was completely exposed with no awning. I never had any issues at all.
Snow, wind, rain, heat and cold – there shouldn’t be any issues. I can’t personally vouch for extreme cold weather over extended periods of time though. Due to the disruptive nature of some climates, freezing temperatures are another major concern.
Ring states that the operating temperatures are rated for -5°F to 120°F or -20°C to 50°C. Once you get to around freezing, it will affect the battery’s ability to hold a charge. Extreme cold beyond -5° will probably result in the battery not working at all.
Would You Say the Ring Doorbell Is Hard to Install?
For someone who is reasonably able to follow a few instructions and connect a device to their WiFi, I’d say that most Ring Doorbells are very easy to install. Ring provides you with a downloadable App that guides you with step by step video instructions from start to finish. They also provide you with most of the tools to install your device, aside from a drill (which you may not even need).
If you’re installing on wood or siding, you probably will be able to screw directly into the surface without using a drill. If you’re mounting on brick, concrete or stucco, you’ll need to drill holes for the provided anchors. So yeah, even in this case, they have provided you with the correct drill bit and the anchors.
In the case that you decide to wire into an existing doorbell, you’ll need to hook up 2 wires. It doesn’t matter which connection you make to each wire, it will work either way. If you have a digital door chime, you need to also connect an included diode to the terminal. Again, they provide video instructions and a printed manual for this and any other details. This is about as complicated as it gets for most models.
Before you physically mount the doorbell, the app will walk you through connecting it to your WiFi. This is the same app that you’ll be using to alert you someone is at your front door and to view the video feed.
Now, you will probably need professional installation if you decide to go with the Ring Doorbell Ellite unless you’re a real do-it-yourselfer. This is a different process and will require an Ethernet Cable ran along with a recessed installation.
(Here’s an article on how to install a Ring Video Doorbell along with a brief user’s guide.)
Is the Ring Doorbell Worth the Cost
If you have the money to spend, the Ring Video Doorbells are certainly worth the cost. Owning one will give you the peace of mind that you know exactly who is at your front door and if you adjust your settings, who is even in your front yard. You can speak to the Amazon driver, pizza man or maybe your friend whom you need to let know you’re running late. The Ring deters criminals of all types as well. They know to look for video doorbells, so having one will usually keep them moving along.
You can also view (and be alerted) when the kids are coming in and out of the house while you’re at work. That information can be helpful in many ways, lol.
Sure, you’re concerned about your safety AND your budget, but there are many inexpensive options out there for that purpose. The point of a smart home system, on the other hand, is to streamline all your affairs for you and to connect with all other devices seamlessly. Above that in this case is security. While your perception of value may vary based on your own budget, I’d say that the Ring Doorbell is definitely worth the money for anyone with a WiFi connection.
Conclusion
Ring has revolutionized home security over the last several years. In enjoy knowing that my loved ones don’t have to open the door for someone they don’t know. I also like virtually being nearly faced to face with someone at my door no matter where I’m at in the world.
If you prefer to set-and-forget your smart home devices, love the idea of user-friendly self-monitoring options, and enjoy piece of mind, then I highly recommend picking up your own Video Doorbell.
