Home Communications -- Upgrade Or Replace

Home communication is not a new concept. Nutone intercom systems have been around for a couple of decades. In fact, you may have moved into a home that already has an older Nutone intercom installed. Back in the day, this was probably one of the more advanced technology home communications systems available. However, it may not work as well as you anticipated when you purchased the new home. There are some things that you can do to upgrade or repair your new (old) home communication network.

The first thing you can do to help with your situation is to review the owner's manual. Directions for use will be very helpful because the way technology has advanced has also changed the user interface compared to older devices. Using old communications equipment may not be as easy as interacting with new, state-or-the-art equipment. This, however, does not mean you should trash an older system. Many are worth the effort to upgrade or repair. If you cannot find the manual, simply go to your computer and Google the device name and model number. Chances are really good that you will find the exact manual you want (remember, we now live in the "Information Age").

Once you have secured a users' manual, it is time to test the old unit. If there is no power, it may be that the former homeowner has disabled the unit be disconnecting the wires or the electrical breaker. Simply reconnect the wiring or reset the electrical breaker. If your setup is past its prime, you can give it a facelift by retrofitting the faceplates and speaker rings. This will do wonders for the appearance of the visible parts. You could also just remove dirty or rusted rings and use some spray paint to give them a new look.

Some folks have reported that there is a hum in their old speakers when they try to communicate from one room to another or talk with someone at the front door. This upgrade is a bit more involved and may require you to do some rewiring or actually purchase a central control replacement unit. If the speaker wires are too close to the electric wires that power the rest of the house, this may be causing the buzz or hum. If so, moving the wires or rewiring may be the way to go. This might also require some drywall repair and paint. Still, these are not expensive repairs when considering the alternate options. Even if you hire a contractor to do the repair work, it may be cost effective.

The original intent of your older setup was for interactive communications and home security. In many of the current neighborhood environments, security and family communications are even more important than they were in the past. If you are away from home and you know that your children have the added benefit of asking a visitor to identify themselves before the door is opened, you can feel much more confident that those kids will have a better opportunity to remain safe in your absence.

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