Whole-House Water Filtration in Central Virginia — Upfront Pricing
Dealing with hard-water buildup, orange iron stains, a chlorine smell, and spotty glassware — all from the same tap? A whole-home system handles multiple issues at the point of entry. We’ve installed thousands across Central Virginia since 1960.
We test your water on-site, then show you 2–3 whole-home system options with written pricing — free water test, no pressure.
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Or call us now: (434) 505-4780
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
65+ years on Central Virginia wells and city water
Since 1960, we’ve installed whole-home filtration for thousands of homes across Albemarle, Charlottesville, Crozet, and surrounding counties. Well water, city water, new construction, retrofits — we’ve installed in something like your situation before.
Whole-home AND point-of-use — you see both options
A whole-home system treats every tap; a point-of-use system treats only where you need it (kitchen, fridge, showers). We install both and walk you through when each makes sense — so you pay for what you actually need, not what a salesperson wants to sell.
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 home needs a whole-house filter
Orange or Rust-Colored Staining
Orange rings in toilets, rust stains on the laundry, reddish tint to the water — that’s iron. Common in Central Virginia well water and handled at the point of entry.
White Hard-Water Buildup
Chalky crust on faucets, shower doors, and inside appliances means calcium and magnesium. A whole-home softener tied into the system is the standard fix.
Chlorine Taste or Smell
Pool-like smell from the tap is municipal chlorine doing its job at the plant — but still in your drinking and shower water. A carbon stage removes it.
Rotten-Egg Odor
Sulfur smell (often worse in hot water) means hydrogen sulfide. Air-injection or oxidation systems at the point of entry solve it.
Spotty Dishes & Cloudy Glassware
Film on glassware and spots on dishes after the dishwasher means mineral residue — hard water. A whole-home softener is the fix, not more detergent.
Dry Skin, Dull Hair, Itchy After Showers
When soap and shampoo don’t rinse clean, it’s hard water or chlorine bonding to the product. A whole-home softener + carbon stage handles both.
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
We test your water on-site — hardness, iron, pH, chlorine, TDS, and anything else that looks off. Takes 20–30 minutes. You see the actual numbers from your own tap.
We show you 2–3 whole-home options with written pricing
Based on the test results, household size, and well vs. city, we explain 2–3 system configurations (softener, iron filter, carbon, RO add-on) with written pricing for each — before you decide.
Install in one day — cleaned up and pressure-tested
Most whole-home installs finish in a single day. We tie into your main line at the point of entry, run any drain line needed, floor-protect the work area, and pressure-test every connection. Walk-through at the end so you know exactly how it works.
Not Sure What Your Water Actually Needs? We’ll Test It — Free.
A whole-home system can solve hard water, iron, chlorine, and sulfur in a single install — but only if we know what’s actually in your water. The on-site test takes about 30 minutes and costs nothing. Written estimate before any install. No pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Installed cost depends on what’s in your water and which stages you need (softener, iron filter, carbon, sulfur treatment, or a combination). After the free on-site water test, we give you a written estimate with 2–3 system options — so you see the full cost (equipment, labor, and any permits) before you decide. No guessing, no surprises on invoice day.
Whole-house treats every tap, shower, and appliance — the right call if the problem is hard water, iron, chlorine, or sulfur that affects fixtures and laundry. Point-of-use (like under-sink reverse osmosis) treats only drinking water — the right call if your main concern is taste or removing specific contaminants at the kitchen tap. Many homes use both: whole-house for the big problems, point-of-use for the drinking water finish.
Well water is untreated, so you’re responsible for everything. Common issues: hardness, iron, manganese, low pH, sulfur, and bacteria. City water is treated at the plant but often still carries hardness and chlorine. Well-water systems usually need more stages because multiple issues stack. Our free on-site test tells you exactly which stages your water needs.
Yes. We offer financing on whole-home systems through multiple lenders with soft credit pulls for pre-qualification (hard pull only at final approval). Most homeowners who finance land in the $40–$90/month range depending on the system and term. Your technician walks you through options during the water test visit.
Most whole-home installs are single-day jobs — typically 4–7 hours depending on how many stages you install. The main water supply is off for about 60–90 minutes during the tie-in; the rest is bypass plumbing, drain lines, and system setup. We’ll tell you the exact off-water window before we start.
Softeners need salt top-ups every 4–8 weeks. Carbon and sediment cartridges get replaced once or twice a year depending on water quality and usage. Iron filters typically self-clean but need periodic media checks. We offer annual tune-ups if you’d rather not think about it.
Whatever’s in your water — hard minerals, iron, chlorine, sulfur, or all of the above — we’ve seen it before. Thousands of whole-home systems installed across Central Virginia, from Charlottesville city taps to well water in Free Union and Earlysville. You don’t have to guess at what system to buy. Start with the free on-site water test, see your real numbers, and go from there.