Brooklyn
Brooklyn is home base for Douglas Security System (DSS). Our office is on East 46th Street in Brooklyn, and we’ve been repairing and installing intercoms across the borough for over 35 years. From brownstones in Park Slope to large apartment buildings along Ocean Parkway, we know how Brooklyn buildings are wired and what tends to go wrong.
Whether one apartment’s buzzer is dead, the lobby panel has stopped working, or you’re ready to move from an old audio system to video, we can help. Every job starts with a free quote. Call (212) 262-2820 to talk to a Brooklyn technician.
Brooklyn has almost every type of residential building in the city, and each one needs a slightly different approach:
After decades of work in Brooklyn, we see the same problems again and again:
We test the wiring along with the equipment, so we fix the real cause and not just the symptom. Learn more about intercom repair.
Many Brooklyn owners call us about one broken apartment and learn the whole system is near the end of its life. Here’s how we help you decide:
For small Brooklyn buildings, the difference between fixing one part and replacing the entrance panel is often smaller than owners expect, so ask us to quote both. You’ll see the numbers side by side before you decide.
See all of our services.
For brownstones and small walk-ups, a compact video entrance panel with phone access is often the best upgrade. The Comelit Ultra Touch works alongside existing intercom units in many buildings, so you can add video without opening walls. For larger elevator buildings with many apartments, a multi-tenant system like the Aiphone GT Series handles long wire runs and name directories well. For houses, a durable video door station like the Aiphone JP-DV is a common choice.
Many Brooklyn owners also add a Aiphone AC-10S keypad for back doors and service entrances, and security cameras over the front door.
Prices depend on the building, the number of apartments and entrances, and the condition of the wiring. Most single repairs, like replacing one apartment unit or fixing a door release, cost about $250 to $600. A video intercom for a small building with one entrance typically costs about $4,000 to $5,000 or more. These are average New York prices, not a fixed price list. See our intercom cost guide for more detail, and ask about our no monthly fee systems.
Brooklyn buildings follow New York City’s rules. Class A multiple dwellings built or converted after January 1, 1968, with eight or more apartments must have a working intercom with two-way voice and door release from each apartment. Older buildings must add one when a majority of tenants request it in writing. The rule comes from Section 50-a of the New York Multiple Dwelling Law. Read our guide to NYC intercom requirements.
We repair and install intercoms in every Brooklyn neighborhood, including:
Because our office is in Brooklyn, we’re close to most of the borough, which helps when a building needs a technician quickly.
We also serve Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, and Long Island.
Brownstones and walk-ups without a doorman see the same problem every day: couriers can’t get in, packages sit on the stoop, and tenants buzz in strangers to avoid missing deliveries. A video intercom with phone access lets tenants see the courier and open the door from anywhere. Temporary delivery codes let a courier in once without sharing a permanent code. A camera over the entrance or vestibule adds a record of who came and went. See our video intercom installation page and our security cameras.
In Brooklyn walk-ups, the most common complaint is “the buzzer rings but the door won’t open.” That usually means a worn electric strike, a failed relay, or a door that has shifted in its frame. Heavy original doors are especially hard on strikes. We test the whole chain, from the apartment button to the strike, and adjust the door so the new parts last. See our full guide to door buzzer repair.
Brooklyn co-op and condo boards usually want three things from an intercom: a clean-looking entrance, easy management when residents move, and predictable costs. Touch screen panels with a digital directory are easy to update, and app access cuts down on missed deliveries. We work with boards and managing agents on equipment choices, finishes, and scheduling, and we give the board a written plan they can review before approving the work.
An intercom works best as part of a complete entrance. Many Brooklyn buildings add a camera over the front door and vestibule, a camera in the mailroom or package area, and key fobs or a keypad for residents. Fobs can be turned off when a tenant moves out, so you don’t have to change locks. See our security cameras and Aiphone AC-10S keypad.
If your intercom or buzzer stops working, tell the super or landlord right away, ideally in writing, and note which apartment is affected and what happens when you press the buttons. Ask neighbors if their units work too. Don’t prop the entrance door open. If the problem isn’t fixed, tenants can report it through NYC 311.
Yes. Our office is at 1541 E 46th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11234, and we’ve served Brooklyn buildings for over 35 years.
Yes. We repair and replace intercoms in brownstones and rowhouses, including stoop-mounted panels, and we choose finishes that suit historic entrances.
All of them, including Park Slope, Bay Ridge, Flatbush, Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, Williamsburg, Sheepshead Bay, Canarsie, and more.
Water in the basement or a leaking entrance panel is a common cause. Corroded wiring or connections react to moisture, so apartments go dead or buzz. We test and replace the damaged runs.
Yes. We give each building its own quote and work with boards, managing agents, and supers to schedule the work.
Yes. We choose panel sizes, finishes, and mounting that suit the entrance, and we reuse existing openings when possible to avoid extra work on the facade.
Yes. Our office is in south Brooklyn, and we work on elevator buildings, walk-ups, and houses throughout the area, including Midwood, Sheepshead Bay, Marine Park, and Canarsie.
Most single repairs cost about $250 to $600, and a video intercom for a small building with one entrance typically costs about $4,000 to $5,000 or more. These are average New York prices. We give you a free quote after an inspection.
In many buildings, yes. Our Comelit video intercom works alongside existing intercom units, so you can add video and phone access without rewiring the whole building.
Not with our Comelit systems. They’re a one-time investment with no monthly payment. Property management software and call-log servers are optional and sold separately.
On Comelit video intercom installs, we offer a 3-year guarantee on Comelit material and a 1-year guarantee on service and labor.
Call (212) 262-2820 or use the form on this page. Tell us about the property and what isn’t working, and we’ll schedule an inspection.