Collinsville in brief
Our main service area is Northern Virginia. We also connect property owners in Martinsville and Henry and Patrick counties with local crews, and Collinsville is among the busiest parts of that area.
Collinsville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Henry County, just north of the City of Martinsville, with no government of its own; the county provides services. It runs along U.S. 220 Business and the roads off it, with Fieldale and Bassett to the west along the Smith River, and Stanleytown to the northwest.
Most of the housing is single-family: brick ranches, split-levels and two-story homes built from the 1950s through the 1980s, with some newer subdivisions. Many have partial or full basements, especially on sloping lots; others sit over crawl spaces. Much of Collinsville is on public water and sewer, while homes at the edges may still be on wells and septic.
Service area and getting there
We connect homeowners, landlords and tenants across ZIP code 24078. Collinsville is closer and easier to reach than the county's rural roads, and a crew can often get here sooner than farther out, but we still won't promise a time. When you call, we'll tell you honestly when someone can arrive and help you stop the water first.
ZIP codes served: 24078
Communities near Collinsville
Collinsville is part of our Martinsville, Henry & Patrick service area. Neighboring pages cover the City of Martinsville, Fieldale, Bassett, Stanleytown and Axton.
Readings first, then a price you agree to.
Call for Upfront PricingThe small parts that cause big leaks
In a Collinsville house built forty to seventy years ago, the pipes in the walls are rarely what fails first. It's the connections. The flexible supply lines to toilets and faucets, the angle-stop valves on the wall, the washing machine hoses, the water heater connections and the icemaker line behind the refrigerator all sit under constant pressure and wear out quietly.
Most homes of this age have had some of these parts replaced and some not. A plastic supply line from the 1990s may sit next to a valve from the 1960s that hasn't been turned since. When someone finally closes it, the packing leaks. Rubber washer hoses crack from the inside and burst without warning.
The fixes are inexpensive: braided stainless washer hoses, new supply lines every several years, a drain pan and leak alarm under the water heater, and a yearly turn of every shut-off so they work when needed.
If you can't remember when the washer hoses were last replaced, it's time.
Is it seeping in, or is it a pipe? We'll help you tell.
Water in the Basement? Call NowSeepage or a leak? How to tell
A wet basement in Collinsville usually has one of two causes, and they're fixed in completely different ways. Groundwater seepage follows the weather: it shows up during or after rain, usually low on the wall, at the joint where the wall meets the floor, or spreading from one side. It dries up in dry spells, and it often leaves a pale, powdery crust on block or concrete.
A plumbing leak doesn't care about the weather. It keeps going on dry days and is usually near a pipe, fixture, water heater or washer, or it comes from above. On public water, the meter gives a quick answer: turn off every faucet and appliance, then check the meter's small leak dial. If it moves, water is flowing somewhere.
A crew confirms the source with moisture meters and a thermal camera before drying begins, because drying a basement without stopping the source only means drying it again.
Clay soil and sloping lots
Much of the ground around Collinsville is heavy red clay. It sheds water in a hard storm and then holds it for days, and saturated clay presses against foundation walls, pushing water through cracks, tie holes and the wall-floor joint. It swells when wet and shrinks during dry summers, which slowly opens gaps around the foundation and lets backfill settle into a slope toward the house.
On a sloping lot, a split-level's lower rooms or a walk-out basement sit right where that water collects. Regrading so soil falls away from the walls, carrying downspouts several feet out, and keeping gutters clear usually matter more than any work done inside.
Floors, walls and framing dried to normal readings.
Get Help Drying It OutServices for Collinsville homes
- Frozen Pipe Burst Cleanup
- Structural Drying & Dehumidification
- Sewage Backup Cleanup
- Storm & Heavy Rain Water Damage
- Appliance Leak Water Damage
- Burst Pipe Water Damage
Main shut-off, what to move, what photos to take.
Call and We'll Walk You Through ItCollinsville water damage questions
Is Collinsville part of Martinsville?
No. Martinsville is an independent city with its own government. Collinsville is an unincorporated community in Henry County, just north of the city line, with its own ZIP code, 24078. The county provides its services. We cover both, and each has its own page.
Our split-level's lower family room gets damp after heavy rain. What's happening?
The lower level of a split-level is partly below ground, often on the side where the lot slopes toward the house. Saturated clay pushes water through the wall or at the floor joint. Check gutters and downspouts on that side first, then grading. The crew can dry what's wet and confirm where it's coming in.
The power went out and the basement filled. Why?
If the basement has a sump pump, it stopped when the power did, and groundwater kept rising until the pit overflowed. A battery backup keeps it running through outages, and a high-water alarm warns you when it can't keep up.
Which pipes in a Collinsville house are most likely to freeze?
Pipes in crawl spaces, along exterior walls, in unheated garages and under sinks on outside walls. Close crawl-space vents for winter and open those cabinets during cold snaps.
How do you know when it's dry?
The crew measures materials in dry parts of the house as a reference, then takes readings in the wet areas on each visit. Equipment comes out only when they match, and every reading is logged.
Do wet plaster walls in a Collinsville house get treated differently?
Some older Collinsville homes have plaster. It holds water longer and dries more slowly than drywall, but often it can be dried in place rather than removed.
What does clean, gray and black water mean?
Clean water comes from a supply line or faucet. Gray water has been used, such as from a washer or dishwasher. Black water has come from a toilet with waste, a sewer or ground runoff. The dirtier the water, the more porous material is removed rather than dried.
Why do gutters matter so much for a Collinsville basement?
An overflowing gutter drops a roof's rain against the foundation, and clay holds it there. Clear gutters and long downspouts stop much of it.
What should I tell you when I call from Collinsville?
Where the water is, what caused it if you know, how long it's been, whether it's clean or drain water, and whether it's a basement, crawl space or main floor.