What Happens During a Home Energy Assessment

The word "assessment" makes people picture something complicated. The word "audit" is worse. We hear it constantly: high bills, cold bedrooms, months of putting it off because the process sounds disruptive or equipment-heavy.

Here is what the assessment actually is: 45 minutes. One advisor. A walkthrough. No equipment, no drilling holes, no disruption. Your advisor looks at the house, asks questions, takes notes, and explains what they see as you go room to room.

This guide walks you through every step so you know exactly what to expect.

What an Assessment Is (and Is Not)

A home energy assessment at Horizon Homes is a free, no-obligation visual walkthrough of your home. One of our experienced energy advisors visits, walks through the house with you, identifies where energy is being wasted, and explains what improvements would make the biggest difference.

It is:

• Free - no cost to you
• Visual - your advisor uses their eyes, their experience, and sometimes a flashlight
• Educational - you learn about your home as the walkthrough happens
• About 30 to 60 minutes depending on the size and complexity of your house
• No obligation - you receive a recommendation, not a sales pitch

It is not:

• A diagnostic test with blower doors, duct blasters, or other equipment
• An "inspection" (we are not code enforcement)
• Invasive - we do not cut holes, remove finishes, or disturb your home
• A pressure situation - there is no close, no urgency, no "sign today" pricing

The distinction matters. Some companies use diagnostic testing as a sales tool - they set up a blower door, show you scary numbers, and push you toward signing a contract on the spot. Our approach is different. We believe a knowledgeable walkthrough gives us and you a clear picture of what your home needs. Diagnostic testing like blower door tests happens later, as part of the actual work - not as a sales step.

Step-by-Step: What Your Advisor Does

Here is the full sequence of a typical assessment, from arrival to follow-up.

Before the Visit: Scheduling

You schedule by calling (207) 221-3221 or filling out the form at horizonmaine.com/free-energy-assessment. We book a time that works for you - typically a weekday morning or afternoon. The visit takes 30-60 minutes.

Arrival and Introduction

Your advisor arrives and introduces themselves. They ask a few questions to understand your goals and concerns:

• What prompted you to schedule? (High bills, comfort issues, rebate interest, planning a renovation?)
• Which rooms are uncomfortable? (Cold bedrooms, drafty living room, hot upstairs in summer?)
• What is your current heating system? (Oil, gas, propane, electric, heat pump?)
• How old is the house? Do you know if it has been insulated or air sealed before?
• What are your heating costs? (Having recent utility bills or fuel delivery receipts is helpful but not required)

These questions help your advisor focus the walkthrough on the areas most likely to have an impact.

The Attic

If the attic is accessible, your advisor looks at:

• Insulation type and depth. Is there insulation at all? What kind? How deep? In Maine, we recommend R-49 to R-60 for attics (roughly 14-18 inches of blown-in cellulose). Many homes have 3-6 inches or none at all
• Air sealing. Visible gaps around plumbing pipes, electrical wires, recessed light housings, bathroom fans, and the attic hatch. These penetrations allow warm air to flow from the living space into the attic, wasting heat and contributing to ice dams
• Condition. Signs of moisture, mold, pest activity, or damaged insulation
• Ventilation. Whether the attic has adequate soffit vents, ridge vents, or gable vents for proper airflow above the insulation

The attic is often the single biggest opportunity in a Maine home. Warm air rises, and if the attic floor is not air-sealed and insulated properly, a significant percentage of your heating energy escapes through the top of the house.

The Basement and Crawlspace

Your advisor checks:

• Rim joists. The area where the floor framing meets the foundation wall. In most pre-2000 homes, rim joists are uninsulated and unsealed - a continuous cold air entry point around the entire perimeter of the house
• Foundation walls. Whether they are insulated, and with what material. Uninsulated basement walls in Maine lose significant heat to the cold ground
• Sill plate. The wood framing that sits on top of the foundation. Gaps here let cold air in
• Moisture indicators. Dampness, standing water, efflorescence (white mineral deposits on concrete), or high humidity. Moisture issues need to be addressed before or during insulation work
• Mechanical systems. The age and condition of the boiler, water heater, and any ductwork

Exterior Walls

Your advisor evaluates:

• Construction era and type. A 1950's Cape has different wall characteristics than a 1990's colonial. Knowing the construction helps predict what is (and is not) inside the walls
• Evidence of insulation. Sometimes visible through basement or attic access points. In some cases, the advisor may use a borescope (a small camera on a flexible cable) to look inside a wall cavity through a tiny hole behind baseboard trim or in a closet
• Siding condition. Not for cosmetic evaluation, but to understand what accessing the wall cavities for insulation would involve

The Heating System

Your advisor documents:

• Type and age of the boiler, furnace, or heat pump
• Efficiency rating (AFUE for boilers/furnaces, HSPF or COP for heat pumps)
• Distribution type - baseboard, radiant, forced air, or mini-splits
• Thermostat type and settings
• General condition and any obvious maintenance needs

Comfort Issues

Throughout the walkthrough, your advisor asks about and notes specific comfort problems:

• Which rooms are coldest in winter?
• Where do you feel drafts?
• Does the house feel humid or dry?
• Have you had ice dams?
• Is the upstairs significantly hotter than downstairs in summer?
• Are there rooms you avoid because of temperature?

Your observations about the house are valuable. You live there every day - you know things about how the house behaves that a one-hour walkthrough cannot fully reveal.

What Happens After the Walkthrough

The Conversation

At the end of the walkthrough, your advisor sits down with you and explains what they found. This is a conversation, not a presentation. They tell you:

• What the biggest energy and comfort issues are
• Which improvements would have the most impact
• A recommended order of priority (what to do first)
• Rough cost ranges for each improvement
• Which rebates and incentives may apply

The Follow-Up

Within a few days, you receive a written summary with specific recommendations, cost estimates, and applicable rebate information. This gives you everything you need to make a decision at your own pace.

There is no expiration date on the recommendation. No "act now" pricing. No pressure. If you want to move forward this month, we can schedule work. If you want to think about it for six months, that is fine too.

What Your Advisor Will Not Do

To set expectations clearly:

• No diagnostic testing during the assessment. Blower door tests, duct blaster tests, and infrared camera scans happen as part of the work itself - not during the free walkthrough
• No pressure to sign anything. The assessment is information-gathering, not a sales close
• No upselling. If your home does not need much work, your advisor will tell you that. We would rather be honest and earn your trust than sell something you do not need
• No cost for the visit. The assessment is free regardless of whether you move forward

How Our Approach Differs

Some companies offer "free energy audits" that include diagnostic testing with equipment. That sounds like more value, but it often serves a different purpose. Setting up a blower door test gives the company dramatic numbers to use in a sales pitch: "Your house is leaking X cubic feet per minute of air." Those numbers are real, but presenting them during a sales visit creates pressure.

Our approach separates the assessment (understanding your home) from the diagnostic work (quantifying specific problems). We use blower door testing at the beginning and end of the actual work to target problem areas and verify that our improvements made a measurable difference. This means the testing serves quality assurance, not sales.

Common Questions

How long does it take? Thirty to sixty minutes, depending on the size of the house and how many questions you have.

Do I need to be home? Yes - the advisor walks through with you. Your input about comfort issues and house history is an important part of the assessment.

Should I prepare anything? Having recent utility bills or fuel delivery receipts is helpful. Clearing access to the attic hatch and basement is appreciated. Beyond that, no special preparation is needed.

Is there really no cost? Correct. The assessment is free whether or not you hire us for any work.

What if you find something alarming? If we identify a safety concern (like a CO risk from a cracked heat exchanger), we will tell you immediately and recommend appropriate action. Safety always comes first.

About Horizon Homes

Horizon Homes has been performing energy assessments and home performance work in Greater Portland since 2006. We are an Efficiency Maine Top Contractor with 20+ years of experience and 4.9 stars across 64+ reviews.

Ready to find out what your home needs? Schedule a free home energy assessment or call (207) 221-3221. Thirty to sixty minutes. No cost. No obligation. No equipment.

Related Guides

• How to Prepare for Your Home Energy Assessment
• Understanding Your Energy Assessment Report
• Common Energy Assessment Findings in Maine Homes
• After Your Energy Assessment: What Happens Next