Drinking Water Filters in Central Virginia — Upfront Pricing
Tap water that tastes off, smells chlorinated, or just makes you wonder what’s in it? You’ve got more options than a pitcher filter — under-sink carbon, reverse osmosis, UV sterilization, or a combination. The right one depends on what’s actually coming out of your tap.
We test your drinking water on-site and show you the right level of filtration for what we find — with written pricing. Free drinking water test, no pressure.
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Otter Guys Plumbing was great to work with. Communication was clear from the start. When Ty and Don arrived, they were kind and easy to interact with. They took the time to communicate clearly through every step: diagnosing the problem, explaining what was going on, what the potential issues were, and what needed to happen moving forward. They educated us about the situation instead of just telling us what to do. Pricing was communicated clearly the whole way through. We were given all the pricing options, what they suggested, and why. Everything felt transparent and straightforward, and we didn’t feel pressured to do more than was necessary. I would absolutely recommend them.
Why Central Virginia homeowners choose The Otter Guys for drinking water
65+ years on Central Virginia drinking water
Since 1960, we’ve installed drinking water systems — carbon, RO, UV, or combinations — on thousands of city-water and well-water homes across Charlottesville, Crozet, Earlysville, and surrounding counties.
The right filter for the contaminant — not a one-size answer
A carbon filter handles chlorine and taste. Reverse osmosis handles dissolved contaminants (lead, PFAS, nitrates). UV handles bacteria. Pitcher filters handle almost nothing. We test your water first, then match the system to what you’re actually trying to solve.
In-house installers, not subcontractors
The same crew that installs your system services it and honors the warranty. The tech who ties into your main line is the one you call if anything needs attention later — we don’t hand you off to a third-party installer and disappear.
Extended Warranty Available
Up to 10-year coverage on qualifying systems
Licensed & Insured
VA License #2705181379
BBB A+ Rated
Accredited business
Charlottesville’s Finest
Gold Award 2023–2025
Signs your drinking water needs better filtration
Chlorine or Chemical Taste
That pool-like smell or bite in your tap water is municipal chlorine or chloramine. A good carbon filter removes it completely.
Buying Bottled Water Every Week
If your recycling bin is full of water bottles, point-of-use filtration pays for itself in the first year and eliminates the plastic.
Metallic or Musty Taste
Metallic taste usually means iron or aging pipes; musty taste often means algae or bacterial content. Different problems, different filters.
Cloudy Ice & Bad Coffee
Hazy ice cubes and off-tasting coffee point to high dissolved solids. RO knocks this down to near zero — clear ice, clean taste.
Concern About PFAS or Lead
Carbon filters don’t remove dissolved contaminants. If you’re worried about PFAS, lead, or heavy metals, you want RO at the very least.
Pitcher Filters Aren’t Cutting It
Pitcher filters handle chlorine and little else — and they’re slow. A proper under-sink system delivers unlimited filtered water at the tap, with much more thorough filtration.
Trusted by 6,000+ Central Virginia homeowners
“Malak was very knowledgeable and repaired my water heater very quickly. He even gave me a free water evaluation. Yikes! I had no idea that much chlorine and bacteria were in my water. The Otter Guys are the best.”Denise Dezio Google Review
“Malec was our tech. He was very thorough in his investigation to our water heater problem and water quality check. He respected our home and gave advice on what to expect next. Otter Guys offered us 4 solutions and Malec talked us through where it would be best to start to solve our situation and not just put a bandaid on it. I would highly recommend Otter Guys for their techs professionalism and timely service.”Luke Davies Google Review
“Really really great service. I felt seen and like they were going to make sure I was fully taken care of. I had been told they were a great experience, and now have my own story to back it up.”Christy Scott Google Review
Here’s exactly what happens when you call
Free on-site water test
A technician comes out and tests your water on-site — hardness, iron, pH, chlorine, and more as needed. Takes 15–30 minutes. You see the actual numbers from your own tap.
We show you 2–3 options with written pricing
Based on your water test results, household size, and whether it’s well or city water, we walk you through 2–3 system options with a written estimate for each — before you decide.
Install in 3–5 hours, cleaned up and pressure-tested
Most installs take 3–5 hours. We tie into your main water line, run any drain line needed, floor-protect the work area, and pressure-test every connection before we leave. Then a walk-through of your new system so you know exactly how it works.
What’s Actually In Your Drinking Water? We’ll Test It — Free.
A $40 pitcher filter handles chlorine and almost nothing else. Depending on what’s in your water, the right answer might be an under-sink carbon system, reverse osmosis, UV, or a combination — and the free on-site test tells us which.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cost depends on the filter type — an under-sink carbon system is the entry point, reverse osmosis adds a dedicated faucet and more stages, and UV sterilization adds another layer for well water. After the free on-site drinking water test, we give you a written estimate with 2–3 options so you see the full cost before you decide.
Carbon handles chlorine, chloramine, and taste/odor issues — the right answer for most city water concerns. Reverse osmosis adds removal of dissolved contaminants (PFAS, lead, arsenic, nitrates, TDS). UV sterilizes bacteria and viruses — useful for well water or when you want belt-and-suspenders safety. Your water test tells us which you actually need.
No on carbon filters — flow is unchanged. RO systems deliver through a dedicated faucet at a slower rate (you’ll notice it when filling a pot), which is normal. Main cold/hot water pressure is not affected by under-sink filtration.
Yes. We offer financing on drinking water installs (soft credit pull for pre-qualification; hard pull only at final approval). Most homeowners who finance land in the $40–$90/month range depending on the system. Your technician walks you through options during the test visit.
Most under-sink drinking water systems install in 2–4 hours. We mount the system in the cabinet, install the dedicated faucet, tap the cold water line, and run a drain line if needed. Walk-through at the end with filter replacement instructions.
Carbon pre-filters: every 6–12 months. RO membrane: every 2–4 years. UV bulbs: once a year. We offer annual service plans if you’d rather we handle the replacements and system sanitization on a schedule.
Whatever’s making you reach for bottled water — taste, smell, contaminant worries, or a pitcher filter that can’t keep up — we’ve seen the fix. Thousands of drinking water systems installed across Central Virginia. Start with the free test, see your actual numbers, and go from there.