What should I do with my ugly, outdated home intercom system?

Intercom systems are a great way to add an extra barrier of protection to your home, especially if you have young children. But just like all technology, it’s only a matter of time before something new and improved will emerge—and if you live in an older house with an outdated or broken intercom system, it can stick out like a sore thumb. So what can you do?

Here are three ideas:

Remove It

Intercom systems come in several types. They can be powered by being hardwired into your home, plugging into an AC outlet in the wall, or they can be battery operated. Systems that use wall outlets or batteries require little technical skill to remove, while systems that are hardwired-in may be more complex.

Before you can safely remove the intercom, it’s best to determine what type of system you have in your home. A unit powered by an outlet will simply have a removable plug that goes into the wall, but if there isn’t a plug you’ll have to remove the faceplate and take out the battery to kill power to the unit. Once you’ve done this, unscrew the wall mount and pull out the intercom from the wall—and that’s it!

If there is no battery or external power cord, or if the unit stays on even when the battery is removed, then you probably have a hard-wired system. In this case, shut off the power to the location of the intercom from your circuit breaker. Once you’ve verified that the intercom unit has no power, carefully remove the mounting screws. You should see wires running from the back of the system into the wall. Disconnect the wires (you may have to cut them) and cap the ends with wire connectors.

Once you’ve successfully removed your old intercom system, you’ll need to close the hole with either putty or drywall.

Conceal It

If you’re not comfortable removing the unit yourself, you can try to conceal it. Although this may not be the most effective solution, it certainly is one of the easiest ways to decommission an outdated intercom system if you’re not much of a do-it-yourselfer. For example, a bookcase, China hutch, plant, wall picture, or other furniture can be placed in front of the unit to obstruct the intercom from view. If you can tolerate looking at it but just want to camouflage it, you can paint over it to match the décor in your home.

If these options are not feasible, then you might just try living with it. Even better, if the intercom still works, you could use it! These units can be especially convenient for families living in larger homes that are looking for improved security. Why open your front door to a stranger when you can talk to them safely through an intercom?

Upgrade It

If your intercom system is broken, then it’s probably not cost effective to have it repaired and it will need to be upgraded. Like other forms of technology, intercom systems have advanced and become quite sophisticated over the years—so depending on how old your unit is you may see quite an improvement in a newer system.

Some newer intercom stations are equipped with LCD video that can capture live video stream or an image, which can be most effective when used at the front door. These systems can even email you a photo of the person who rings your doorbell! Leaving the house to run to the store? No problem. Most intercom systems allow you to record a short message so you can notify visitors when you’ll be returning.

If you’re interested in learning more, check out our intercom systems or contact us today for a consultation.

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