When you live in a cold climate, one of the essential things your home should have is undoubtedly a reliable smart doorbell. However, you may be confused as to which model you should buy, since there are many choices on the market. Surely you don’t want your doorbell to be short-lived in the winter. That’s why you need information about the recommended products which you will find here.
Quick links to information on Doorbells:
- SkyBell HD Silver WiFi Video Doorbell
- Ring Video Doorbell 2
- Avantek Mini CW-21 Mini Waterproof Wireless Doorbell
- Nest Hello Doorbell
As you know, the button is one part of a doorbell that is needed to be placed outside, as it needs to be pushed. There is a concern the transmitter may become damaged when the air temperature drops too low, which could render the device no longer functional.
So it’s necessary to identify the operating temperature range of the wireless doorbell receiver. Before you buy one, make sure that the product of your choice is rated to work in very cold temperatures that you would experience.
Reasons Why Electrical Devices Get Damaged When The Weather is Very Cold
- Electrical Parts
Any electrical current will slow down if exposed to very cold air. This slowdown can also occur with the button of a wireless doorbell when you push it since it sends electrical energy down the transmitter, which is then picked up by the receiver. Such a slowdown can shorten the operating range of a doorbell or even make it stop functioning altogether.
- Plastic
Even though it may look solid, plastic can become very fragile at certain temperatures, leaving it easily breakable. So for a waterproof push-button, the least expected thing is for its plastic to break.Having a waterproof rating doesn’t make a push-button completely safe from the threat of cold weather, especially when its outer casing is damaged which results in the exposure of electrical components to humidity or even water when it rains.It only takes a little crack on the transmitter to make water collect in the crevice. When the temperature gets freezing, the ice expansion will enlarge the crack and make things worse.
- Battery
The battery is a part that you want to separate from the others because although it’s installed in a ‘safe’ place under electrical components, it still doesn’t escape the threat brought about by extreme changes in temperature. In fact, cold air can make the battery drain faster. It won’t be able to store energy effectively.The battery is significantly affected by cold weather, which can slow down the flow of its charge and reduce its effectiveness until it becomes permanently damaged.
The Average Wireless Doorbell Working Temperature Range
On average, wireless doorbells can work without problems at temperatures of -4°C to 40°C. This range is ideal for most electrical devices in general. If your area has the temperature that can reach figures outside the range mentioned above, then you need devices with a broader range.
Despite the average range mentioned above, it’s still highly recommended to check with the manufacturer before you buy a smart doorbell since you don’t want to void any warranty.
Best Smart Doorbells For Cold Weather
When winter comes, you are indeed worried whether your smart doorbell can withstand very low temperatures or not. Fortunately, here we have collected the best smart doorbells that can operate well even in freezing weather, so you don’t need to worry anymore about the durability of your doorbell amid cold, humid air.
Smart doorbells are beneficial because they have many advanced features such as night vision, two-way audio, and live video-on-demand, among others. On top of that, you don’t need to drain your cash to get one of these devices since our list includes budget-friendly to expensive models.
- SkyBell HD Silver WiFi Video Doorbell
When listing the best smart doorbells, the SkyBell HD Video Doorbell is one that deserves to be mentioned the earliest. This multiple award-winning doorbells has gained wide recognition among tech reviewers, and over the past few years has always been praised for being a quality product.The device can work at temperatures of -40°F to 140°F or -40°C to 60°C. This range is enough to satisfy users whose homes are surrounded by very cold air. Moreover, the SkyBell HD Video Doorbell also stores all recorded events for up to 7 days, free of charge.
Pros:
Color Night Vision: This feature allows users to see anything recorded by the doorbell in the middle of the night. So you don’t need to panic and open the door when you hear something strange.Compatible with Alexa: This compatibility makes it easy for you to control your smart doorbell. With Alexa, it takes only a simple voice command to check the video or ringing history.
On-Demand Video Streaming: You can see whatever happens whenever you want thanks to the on-demand video streaming technology. The device is capable of providing live footage with clear image quality.
Shared Access: The SkyBell HD lets you add more users so that you and all your family members can view live videos, receive notifications and alerts at the same time.Motion Sensor: This doorbell is equipped with a sensor which works in detecting motion and notifying the user of the SkyBell HD about it. This technology will increase your sense of security at home.
Cons:
Needs to be Hardwired: The SkyBell HD may not be very suitable for those who move around a lot. Why? Because it requires a connection with a wired doorbell chime. In addition, the device requires the proper low voltage transformer with 10-36 vac 10 VA.It’s also worth noting that connecting both wires of the SkyBell to a transformer does necessitate either a ten ohm/10 watt resistor or a wired doorbell chime, without which your smart doorbell will malfunction.
False Motion Detection: Having a sensitive motion sensor is a good thing, or maybe not sometimes. Some users of SkyBell have mentioned the smart doorbells being oversensitive in detecting motion at times, which can be a nuisance if you live in a busy area.As a solution, you may want to look into the Ring Pro, which has better performance in detecting motion.
- Ring Video Doorbell 2
Ring is one company you can trust when it comes to smart home security systems; that’s since they have many impressive products money can buy. One of their famous items is the Doorbell 2 Video Ring.Actually, Ring offers a variety of doorbells, but for now, we will look at this model which can operate at temperatures of -5°F to 120°F (-20.5°C to 48.5°C). It also has modern features such as live-view on-demand and two-way audio, among others. For more details, read the reviews below.
Pros:
Removable Battery: If you buy the Ring Video Doorbell 2, you will have the option to run it with a battery only, or you can hardwire it if you want. With these two choices, each of which comes with different benefits, the installation method can be adjusted to your needs.If you hardwire the doorbell, you won’t need to think about running out of power or replacing the battery. But if you choose to use a battery, the installation process will be simpler, and the device will still be able to operate when the electricity is cut off.
30-day Trial: The Ring Video Doorbell 2 offers two subscription plans, including the Free Plan and the Protect Plus. There’s also a 30-day trial option where users can record, save and share events captured by the smart doorbell.
If you continue to subscribe after the trial period is expired, the Protect Plus option will cost $10 per month. That gives you a 24/7 professional monitoring service with Ring Alarm, plus a 10% price cut for each Ring product you buy in the future.Voice Control: When operating with Alexa, as well as Echo Spot or Echo Show, users can control the Ring Video Doorbell 2 easily using simple voice commands. The Echo device can also illuminate and inform you that a person is at your door.
Two-Way Talk and On-Demand Video Stream: This pair of features is extremely useful these days, as it allows you to not only see outside your house without opening the door but also communicates with someone outside through the two-way audio feature. For example, you can tell the postman where to put your package, or even warn some thieves without approaching the door. Anyway, you are always in control of the situation outside your home.
Cons:
Live Video Streaming Requires Hardwiring: The choice to not hardwire your doorbell comes at a cost. That is, you won’t be able to live-stream what’s happening outside your home since the live-view on-demand feature – which needs continuous power supply – is not active when the device runs on a battery.Extreme Weather Could Cause Malfunction: As we mentioned before, the Ring Video Doorbell 2 has its own working temperature range, which is between -5°F to 120°F. So if the weather in your place is very cold to the point below -5°F, your smart doorbell might malfunction. The solution? If you live in a place much colder than what this device can withstand, you may want to use the SkyBell HD instead, which is a tougher choice at a relatively similar price.
- Avantek Mini CW-21 Mini Waterproof Wireless Doorbell
Now, this is a suitable model for those who move around a lot. The Avantek Mini CW-21 runs on battery power. Furthermore, it also offers up to 52 different chime tunes you can choose from, in addition to a strong signal that extends up to 1000 feet. This ensures that you will always know when a guest is at the door. The gadget has a working temperature range between -4°to 140°F (-20°C to 60°C).
Pros:
Reliable Performance: Packing a CR2032 lithium battery, the Avantek Mini CW-21 consumes very low power. The battery itself can last up to 3 years, so users don’t need to worry about the need to replace the battery frequently or run out of power in a short amount of time.Adjustable Volume: You can adjust the Avantek Mini CW-21 to get the lowest volume point where you don’t want to disturb your baby’s sleep or the highest volume point that can be heard amid the noise of a party. The highest and lowest volume preferences can be adjusted to your needs.Easy to Install: Another advantage of using this device is the easy installation process thanks to the fact that it only uses a battery as its source of power. Also, there are some trouble-free installation options include using an adhesive patch, fastening the device to your wall, or fastening it with the default screws.
Cons:
Not Compatible With Smart Home Systems: The Avantek Mini CW-21 doesn’t have enough technology on its side, making it look less attractive to those who need the voice control feature, as the doorbell doesn’t have it. It also won’t integrate with Google Assistant and Alexa.No Advanced Features: If you are a big fan of technology or you feel like you can’t have a smart doorbell without features such as live video-on-demand and two-way audio, then the Avantek Mini is not for you. Because it’s designed to be a simple and budget-friendly smart doorbell, so it’s not equipped with a camera, and therefore no motion sensor as well.
- Nest Hello
Winter in your area is not too cold? Maybe the Nest Hello is a smart doorbell that suits you. It’s built to withstand temperatures from 5° to 104°F (-15° to 40°C). It’s also rich in technology, being equipped with high-end security features such as facial recognition, CVR and more. That makes it a nice investment for tech enthusiasts.
Pros:
Motion and Sound Detection: With the Nest Hello installed in your home, you can not only detect motion from outside but also sound. To prevent annoying alerts and maintain your comfort, the sensitivity level of this gadget can be adjusted according to your needs.The sensor on the camera will record and remember all the motion it captures. The timeline of recording history can be accessed through an application, allowing you to see the situation outside your home while you were away. With CVR technology, the camera can continuously record whatever happens in front of your home.Pre-Recorded Responses: You can also use one of the three readily recorded responses to quickly greet your guest with. Such as “Wait a minute”, “Leave it at the door”, or “I can’t come to the door”. This gives you the ability to respond properly regardless of the situation.Smart Home Compatibility: Because Nest is a division of Google, its Hello doorbell works well with Google Assistant, allowing you to take advantage of features such as voice control, with which you can instruct Google to cast live streaming from the Nest Hello to your Chromecast-equipped TV.
If that’s not cool enough, you can subscribe to Nest Aware and let the smart speaker call your visitor’s name. This can happen if the Nest app recognizes them.
Live View on Demand and Two-Way Talk: The Nest Hello has important security features such as live view, two-way talk, motion detection and night vision. All this technology makes it a perfect smart doorbell.
Cons:
Expensive: Coming with high technology, Nest Hello is not an affordable product. In fact, it’s more expensive than other smart doorbells on the market.Delayed Notification: According to reports circulating, the Nest Hello sometimes has a lag problem in sending notifications to the phone when it detects motion. The user must wait at least 10 seconds for the notification. In the long run, this can obviously be annoying as you won’t immediately notice a visitor who comes to your home.
Sometimes there’s also a notification gap that is quite long between motion detection, where the user must wait up to 30 minutes before receiving the next alert.
Best Smart Doorbell For Cold Weather According to Us
We have conducted an in-depth assessment of smart doorbells that are resistant to cold temperatures and have good features.
As you know, the affordable Avantek Mini comes with a simple design but is strong enough for the price, although it’s weaker in terms of technology. Still, the Avantek Mini is a very reliable wireless model.
We also have the Nest Hello as the most costly option. In terms of sophistication, this model doesn’t need to be questioned since it features facial recognition and CVR. But when it comes to dealing with the lowest temperature, this one is not the best on the list. It also has some functionality flaws as reported by some of its users.
The Ring Video Doorbell, meanwhile, is an attractive choice if the temperature in your area doesn’t go below -5°F (-20°C). But if the air gets colder than that, the gadget might fail to function correctly.
So in our opinion, the best smart doorbell you can buy in the winter is the SkyBell HD. With its ability to withstand extreme cold weather, and its 7-day of free video history that no other model offers, it’s undoubtedly the winner.