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Install smart smoke/CO detectors
Trigger
Upgrade for interconnected alerts
Who does it
DIY or Pro
Est. time
1-2 hrs per unit
Est. cost
$40-120 per unit
Difficulty
●●●○○
Step by step
Plan detector locations: every bedroom, hallway, and level of the home.
Turn off power at the breaker if hardwiring; verify with a tester.
Mount the new base plate and connect the wiring harness/pigtail.
Pair each unit with the manufacturer's app and assign it to a room.
Test all units and set up mobile alerts.
Questions to ask your pro
- Are you a licensed electrician for hardwired installations?
- Will all detectors be hardwired and interconnected so every unit sounds when one triggers?
- Are these units compatible with my existing alarm wiring?
- Do they meet current building code requirements for placement and quantity in my jurisdiction?
- Do they include both smoke and carbon monoxide detection in one unit?
- What is the battery backup duration in a power outage?
- What is the useful lifespan and when will I need to replace the sensors?
Video guide
How to Install Smart Smoke and CO Detectors - This Old House
Watch this guide
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Community editing (coming soon)
See a better technique, a broken link, or a regional building-code note? Contributions will work like a wiki once accounts and review are live.
Bill of materials