MCIA Prevent
Stop the claim before it starts.
Available to every MCIA policyholder. We reinvest part of what we earn into preventing the fires, water damage and winter freeze-ups that disrupt your life.
Home safety check
An experienced inspector checks the things most likely to cause a fire, gas leak or water damage, every two years on request. Your first visit includes a free fire extinguisher.
$39.99
Small fixes, fair prices
Dryer vent cleaning, detector replacement, leak sensors, a quick tire check. Only when something actually needs doing.
From $5
Winter freeze protection
A thermal-camera scan for pipes at risk of freezing, before a Maine cold snap finds them first.
From $49
Home safety inspection, $39.99, every two years
An experienced inspector walks through your home looking for the problems most likely to cause a fire, a gas leak or water damage. Visits are capped at 60 minutes. Larger homes that need more time are $25 per additional 30 minutes, and we’ll always ask before going over. Just let us know when you’d like to schedule it. Want one more often? Additional inspections are $99.
Free fire extinguisher with your first inspection. We’ll leave one in your home, show you where it should live, and replace it every 10 years. In other inspection years, we may include something else useful instead, like a leak detector.
- Smoke and CO alarms tested, checked for placement and end-of-life dates
- Explosive gas detector for homes with propane or natural gas
- Fire extinguisher on hand and in date
- Dryer vent and lint buildup
- Visible plumbing and water leaks under sinks, toilets and appliances
- Washing-machine hoses for cracks, bulges and wear
- Water heater and the area around it
- Main water shutoff located and tagged so anyone can find it fast
- Sump pump operation and discharge, if you have one
- Freeze risk: exposed pipes, exterior-wall plumbing, crawl spaces, outdoor hoses
- GFCI outlets tested
- Electrical panel and cord hazards: double taps, overloaded power strips, cords under rugs
- Heating system, space heaters and clearances
- Heating oil tank for corrosion, leaks, unstable legs and damaged lines
Add-ons, only when there’s work to do
If the inspection finds something, we’ll tell you what it is and what it costs to fix. Everything below is optional.
Tire & road safety check
Tire pressure, tread depth and obvious damage on your vehicles. It matters most in Maine snow and rain.
$5
Dryer vent cleaning
Lint buildup is one of the most preventable causes of home fires.
$35
Leak sensor installation
Under the washer, water heater or sinks, so a slow leak gets noticed early.
$5 + sensor
Smoke/CO alarm batteries
Fresh batteries in alarms that aren’t expired.
$5 + batteries
Outdoor faucet winterization
Disconnect hoses, close the interior shutoff and drain the line where it’s designed for it.
$10
Washing-machine hoses replaced
Braided replacement hoses before the old ones fail.
$20 + parts
Frozen-pipe prevention
A Maine winter can split a pipe inside a wall before anyone knows. We use a thermal camera to find cold spots along your plumbing and give you a freeze-risk map with a line-item quote for anything worth fixing.
- $49 freeze-risk scan when added to your home safety inspection, for homes up to 1,500 sq ft. Larger homes and standalone scans are quoted by size.
- Your scan fee is credited toward any fixes over $150.
- Fixes are priced per unit: pipe insulation, leak and low-temperature sensors, faucet winterization and heat cable. Anything that means opening a wall or rerouting plumbing gets a separate written estimate.
- Offered November through March, when it’s cold enough outside for the camera to show problem spots.
$49
Detector replacement, installed
If a detector is expired or missing, we can replace it on the spot.
| Detector, installed | Price |
|---|---|
| Smoke detector, 10-year sealed battery | $60 |
| Smoke/CO combo, 10-year sealed battery | $70 |
| CO detector, plug-in | $45 |
| Explosive gas detector | $70 |
A written summary
You’ll get a short written summary of what the inspector found and your options for fixing it. The results are yours. If you’d like, share them with us and we’ll walk you through what they mean for your coverage. For condos and rentals, we focus on what’s inside your unit and give you a list you can share with your landlord or association.
A thank-you every year
$50 MCHA heating-fuel gift card
Every MCIA client receives a $50 gift card toward heating fuel through Maine Community Home Alliance each year.
Gifts are provided in accordance with Maine law (24-A M.R.S. §2163-A), are not cash, and will not exceed $100 in value per person per year. Offered on the same terms to every client. Subject to change.
The inspection is available to current MCIA policyholders once every two years on request; additional inspections within that period are $99. Add-ons are available at the listed prices. The inspection is a visual safety check, not a home inspection, code inspection or electrical evaluation, and it does not guarantee your home is free of defects. Services are provided by Granite Coast Home Services and Maine Community Home Alliance, which are affiliated with MCIA through common ownership. Services are not part of your insurance contract, do not affect your premium, and are not an insurance inspection or underwriting decision.
Get a coverage review
Tell us about your home and what you’d like covered. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours (usually less) to talk through your options. No pressure to switch.