The advantage of a hard wired doorbell system is that you can choose from a vast range of characterful bell pushes that come in all shapes and sizes and a multitude of finishes. The bell or chime may be powered either from the mains electricity supply or by using batteries.

Some doorbells offer a choice of wireless “channels” or frequencies. Some kind of link feature can also be useful, as certain wireless doorbells are susceptible to interference from electronics or car key fobs. It’s also worth looking for a push button that’s IP44-rated, as this means it should be protected against the hostile weather many UK front doors endure on a daily basis.On the subject of range, some wireless doorbells now promise to reach 100m to 400m. The larger your property, the greater range you will require, but 400m is ample to cater for a sizeable place so you’re unlikely to need anything more than that. Transformers are available in 1 Amp and 2 Amp, if your doorbell is connected to only one door, a 1 Amp transformer will be sufficient, but for two-door installations, you would require a 2 Amp transformer.

If you choose a square door bell pull, you’ll just need to complete the installation with your chosen Butlers Bell. Unless there is already an electrical installation in your property, a mains wired doorbell should always be installed by a qualified electrician. Flashing lights are a popular addition, allowing you to mute your doorbell to avoid waking the kids or alert those with weaker hearing that someone is outside. Some models even offer a dedicated mute function or options to silence the doorbell for a set period of time. Wire free doorbells are the easiest to install and are normally battery-operated. Instead of wires, radio waves are used to connect transmitter to the chime. In wire free doorbells, the transmitter is built into the switch button mechanism. Most wire free doorbells can be fixed to the wall using double-sided tape, or will screw simply into a wall and use batteries that are commonly available.

It’s got an impressive range of up to 400m, 52 different chimes to choose from and five different volume levels, with the loudest measuring in at 115dB. The doorbell is IP55-rated, making it both dust and waterproof and Avantek says it will continue to operate in temperatures as low as -20°C. The Avantek Wireless Doorbell doesn’t do anything fancy or complicated but for the money, you will be getting a doorbell that’s perfectly serviceable and straightforward to install. Key specs – Power: Mains + batteries; Quoted range: 128m; Chimes: 8; Flash alert: Yes; Mute function: No; Warranty: 24 months

Key specs – Power: Mains/2 x AA battery; Quoted range: 150m; Chimes: 16; Flash alert: Yes; Mute function: Yes; Warranty: 12 months If you decide on an electric bell system, there are still a number of decisions you need to make. There are two types of electric doorbells – wired where there is a physical bell wire from the button to the bell/chime and wire free where the signal is transmitted wirelessly to the bell or chime so the bell or chime can be placed anywhere (within a defined range). With wired or wire free systems there may be a choice of mains power or battery for the bell itself. Ease of installation is a big factor here.

Never miss another visitor with the best battery and plug-in wireless doorbells

Wired doorbell kits Here is a selection of Wired doorbell kits. These Wired Doorbell kits can be powered by batteries only, transformer only or either battery or transformer depending on the model. Transformers connect to the mains and drop the voltage from 240v to 8v – 12Volt a/c for safe operation. Both wired and wire free doorbells are available in a variety of sounds. It’s important to choose a pleasant sound you like, something attention grabbing, yet peacefully enjoyable. If you like simple sounds, go for a buzzing sound, ringing bell or a “ding-dong” classic chime. More sophisticated doorbells come with complex melodies and sound effects.