ArcaMax

It’s colorless, odorless and tasteless, which is why carbon monoxide is called the silent killer. This elusive gas is difficult to detect, so thousands of people die or become sick each year from the gas that can form when a furnace or appliance that runs on natural gas or other fossil fuel fails to fully burn the fuel.

To protect your home and family, install a CO (carbon monoxide) alarm that measures the amount of gas in the air and sounds an alarm before it reaches a dangerous level. The price of a CO alarm varies based on the inlcuded features, such as voice alarms, remote controls, silence buttons, or a combined smoke alarm. The devices are battery-powered or plug-in. A battery-powered alarm device can have a backlit digital display that lets you read the CO level in the dark — a handy feature during a power outage. A plug-in device that works in any standard electrical outlet is convenient to use anywhere in the house and usually includes a 9-volt battery for protection during a short-term power outage.

Home safety experts say to install alarms at least 15 feet away from cooking or heating appliances to prevent a false alarm, and put at least one on every floor of your house and in sleeping areas.

To install a battery-powered unit in the ceiling or wall, a handyman will charge $110, which includes the alarm and the labor. You can buy one for $45 and install it yourself, saving 59%.

Pro Cost: $110 — DIY Cost: $45 — Pro time: 0.3
DIY Time: 0.8 — DIY Savings: $65 — Percent Saved: 59%

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To find more DIY project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com and m.diyornot.com on smartphones.

©2025 Gene and Katie Hamilton. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.