OUR SERVICES

Home inspections

Our general building inspections encompass the following:

  • Roof, vents, flashing and trim
  • Gutters and downspouts
  • Skylight, chimney and other roof penetrations
  • Decks, stoops, porches, walkways, and railings
  • Eaves, soffit, and fascia
  • Grading and drainage
  • Basement, foundation, and crawlspace
  • Water penetration and foundation movement
  • Heating systems
  • Cooling systems
  • Main water shut off valves
  • Water heating system
  • Interior plumbing fixtures and faucets
  • Drainage sump pumps with accessible floats
  • Electrical service line and meter box
  • Main disconnects and service amperage
  • Electrical panels, breakers, and fuses
  • Grounding and bonding
  • GFCI’s and AFCI’s
  • Fireplace damper door and hearth
  • Insulation and ventilation
  • Garage doors, safety sensors, and openers

Energy audits

An energy audit helps determine where your home is losing energy, as well as suggestions for solutions. The first thing that we do for every energy audit is perform a blower door test. (The exception being if there is vermiculite present in the attic.) A blower door is a powerful fan that mounts into the frame of an exterior door. The fan pulls air out of the house, lowering the air pressure inside. The higher outside air pressure then flows in through all unsealed cracks and openings. This allows us to measure the air infiltration rate in your home.

A few of the other things we do are identify air sealing opportunities, measure insulation, examine the furnace and ducting, and use an infrared camera to check for heat loss.

The next step is six labor hours of air sealing. Depending on your home and it’s accessible spaces, we identify and seal gaps and cracks in the basement or attic using expanding foam or caulking. These include, but aren’t limited to, electrical penetrations, top plates, plumbing vents, box sills and rim joists. We photograph the before and after of this process.

Once the air sealing is finished, and any additional testing is completed (for example, combustion testing if a gas stove is present), we perform the blower door test again. This helps determine the percentage the air flow has been reduced.

Once we are finished on site, we compile the photos and test results in a report. The report identifies areas for improvement, as well as offering potential solutions. You receive a copy, and we keep a copy for our records.

RADON AND WATER TESTING

We test for radon in the air, radon in the water, and the quality of the drinking water.

INSULATION

We install blown fiberglass, cellulose, or fiberglass batts in attics and rigid foam insulation in basements.  As part of the process of insulating an attic, we can also insulate hatches, air seal gaps and cracks, vent bathroom fans to the exterior, and install baffles to ensure adequate air flow from soffit vents.

MOLD TESTING

We perform mold inspections and air testing within homes or businesses. During this process, we look for conditions that are conducive to mold growth, and test accordingly.

Pricing:

Home Inspections
  • Less than 2000 Square Feet & Less than 100 Years Old: $350.00
  • Over 100 Years Old: +$40.00
  • Each Additional 1000 Square Feet: +$75.00
  • Garages: Starting at $75.00
  • In-Law Apartments: Starting at $75.00
  • Multi-Units: $75.00 Per Unit
  • Anything over 5000 Square Feet Call for Quote
Energy Audits with Air Sealing

Affordable Home is a registered Efficiency Maine Vendor. Rebates are subject to change. Rebates below are from late 2022 until early 2023.

  • Efficiency Maine HESP Compliant Energy Audit with Air Sealing: $600.00 ($200 customer, $400 instant rebate)
  • Efficiency Maine LIHESP Compliant Energy Upgrade Bundle: $600.00 ($0.00 customer, $600 instant rebate)

Rebates for these services are available through Efficiency Maine. Please visit their website for additional details as rebates may change or call for current rebates. 

Home Energy Savings Program 

Low Income Home Energy Savings Program

Testing With Inspection
  • Radon Air Testing: $169.00*
  • Radon Water Testing: $69.00**
  • Radon Air & Water Together: $230.00
  • Set-B Water Quality Testing: $100 (Plus express shipping to Lab via courier $20.00)
  • FHA Water Quality Testing: $115 (Plus express shipping to Lab via courier: $20.00)
  • Mold Testing: $200 per canister or direct sample

* The radon air testing is based on EPA and state of Maine guidelines. Occasionally, additional tests are required to meet minimum standards. The most common scenarios being when there are multiple foundations in a home or living space above a garage.

**Radon water and water quality testing are done on a per-well basis.

Testing Without Inspection
  • Radon Air Testing: $210*
  • Radon Water Testing: $119.00**
  • Radon Air & Water Together: $320
  • Set-B Water Quality Testing: $150 (Plus express shipping to Lab via courier: $20.00)
  • FHA Water Quality Testing: $165 (Plus express shipping to Lab via courier: $20.00)
  • Mold Testing: $200 per canister (minimum 2)
  • Over 60 Miles from Bangor: +$75.00 (Applies to Mold Testing only)

* The radon air testing is based on EPA and state of Maine guidelines. Occasionally, additional tests are required to meet minimum standards. The most common scenarios being when there are multiple foundations in a home or living space above a garage.

**Radon water and water quality testing are done on a per-well basis.

Insulation
Call for a free site visit/quote.

We’d love to help make Your home an affordable home