Quick Answer: What Does It Cost?
| System Type | Installed Cost | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Under-sink RO (drinking only) | $500–$2,500 | Kitchen tap only |
| Whole-home carbon filter | $1,500–$4,000 | Chlorine, taste/odor only |
| Water softener only | $1,500–$4,000 | Hard water only — not contaminants |
| Whole-home refiner (filter + soften) | $6,000–$10,000 | All taps, hard water + contaminants |
| Total Home Bundle (refiner + RO) | $8,000–$12,000 | Complete protection — every tap |
| Premium whole-home RO | $10,000–$20,000+ | Overkill for most homes |
What Actually Drives the Price
Three things determine what a system costs:
1. What it removes
A carbon filter that removes chlorine is cheap to build. A system that removes PFAS, lead, disinfection byproducts, nitrates, and hardness minerals simultaneously requires multiple filtration stages, different media, and more engineering. More contaminants removed = higher cost. There's no shortcut around this.
2. How many points of use it protects
An under-sink RO filters one tap. A whole-home system filters every tap, shower, ice maker, and appliance in the house. The whole-home system also protects your pipes and appliances from hard water scale — adding years to their lifespan and protecting a significant dollar value in the process.
3. Brand, quality, and warranty
A $500 whole-home filter from a big box store and a $8,000 Westinghouse refiner both claim to "filter your water." The difference is in filtration media quality, flow rate, regeneration efficiency, and what happens when something breaks. Cheap systems use lower-grade media that exhausts faster and needs replacing more often. Quality systems are built to last 20+ years with minimal maintenance.
Tier-by-Tier Breakdown
What it does: Removes chlorine, chloramines, and some sediment. Improves taste and odor from every tap.
What it doesn't do: Does not remove PFAS, lead, nitrates, disinfection byproducts, or hard water minerals. If your main concern is contaminant removal, this isn't the right system.
Best for: Homeowners on a tight budget whose only concern is taste and chlorine smell — and who are on soft water without a contamination problem.
Water softener: Removes calcium and magnesium — the minerals that cause hard water scale and soap scum. Protects appliances and pipes. Does NOT remove PFAS, lead, or other contaminants. This is a common mistake — people get a softener thinking it "filters" their water. It doesn't.
Under-sink RO: Removes PFAS, lead, nitrates, chlorine, and most dissolved contaminants — but only at one tap (usually the kitchen). Great for drinking water, but leaves your showers, ice maker, and appliances unprotected.
Best for: Specific, targeted problems — hard water OR drinking water quality, not both.
What it does: Combines whole-home filtration with water softening in a single system. Removes chlorine, hard minerals, iron, and sediment from every tap in the house. Protects all appliances, pipes, and fixtures. Your showers feel different, your hair is softer, your water heater runs more efficiently.
What it doesn't do: Doesn't provide the additional contaminant removal (PFAS, nitrates, lead at very low levels) that a reverse osmosis stage adds. Fine for many households — but if you're in an area with documented PFAS or lead contamination, add a drinking RO.
Best for: Homeowners who want whole-home improvement and don't have a specific high-concern contaminant problem.
What it does: Everything. The whole-home refiner handles every tap, shower, and appliance. The under-counter RO adds a second stage of purification specifically for drinking and cooking water — removing PFAS, lead, nitrates, and dissolved contaminants down to fractions of a part per billion.
Why it's the best value: At most dealers, adding the RO to a whole-home system only costs $1,000–$2,000 more than the whole-home alone. The marginal cost per day of that added protection is pennies. This is the combination we recommend for anyone in Indiana or Kentucky with Ohio River source water.
Best for: Homeowners who want complete, comprehensive protection and aren't willing to wonder whether their water is safe.
Hidden Costs to Watch For
The system price is only part of the picture. Here's what dealers often don't mention upfront:
- Installation: Some dealers quote the system without installation. Installation typically adds $300–$800 depending on complexity. We include it in every quote — no surprises.
- Filter replacements: Whole-home carbon media typically needs replacing every 3–5 years. RO membranes every 2–3 years. Budget $150–$400/year depending on system size and water quality.
- Salt for softeners: Salt-based softeners need 40–80 lb bags of salt every 4–6 weeks. That's $15–$30/month. Factor it in.
- Service contracts: Some dealers charge annual service fees. Our systems come with a 3-year full service plan included in the bundle price.
- Water waste: Standard RO systems waste 3–4 gallons for every gallon of purified water. High-efficiency systems reduce this significantly — ask about the ratio before you buy.
Does the quote include installation? What are the ongoing filter replacement costs and intervals? Is there a service contract, and what does it cover? What's the warranty — on the system, on parts, and on labor? A reputable dealer will answer all of these without hesitation.
How Financing Changes the Math
A $10,000 whole-home system sounds expensive. Financed, it's about $3/day. That's less than most families spend on bottled water, and it protects every tap in the house indefinitely.
Here's the framing that matters: you're not buying a $10,000 appliance. You're paying $3/day for water that doesn't have PFAS, lead, or hard water scale in it. Most homeowners find that comparison pretty easy to make.
| System | Total Price | Financed Daily Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Pure Drink (RO only) | $2,000 | ~$2/day |
| Pure Home (whole-home) | $8,000 | ~$3/day |
| Total Home Bundle | $10,000 | ~$3/day — same as Pure Home alone |
See exact pricing for your home
We'll come test your water, tell you exactly what's in it, and recommend the right system for your situation — with no pressure and no surprise costs.
Whole-Home Filtration vs. The Alternatives
| Option | Annual Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Bottled water (family of 4) | $1,200–$2,400/yr | Drinking water only. Plastic waste. Heavy to carry. |
| Pitcher filter (Brita, etc.) | $150–$300/yr | One pitcher. Slow. Doesn't remove lead or PFAS (standard). |
| Faucet filter | $100–$250/yr | One tap. Reduces chlorine. May reduce lead if NSF 53 certified. |
| Doing nothing | $0 upfront | PFAS accumulating in your family's bodies. Hard water destroying appliances. |
| Total Home Bundle (financed) | ~$1,100/yr (~$3/day) | Every tap. Every contaminant. Every appliance protected. |
The math is straightforward: a family spending $150/month on bottled water is already paying more than a financed whole-home system costs — and getting far less protection for it.
What We Charge and Why
We install Westinghouse-certified water treatment systems in Louisville, KY and Southern Indiana. Here's our pricing:
- Pure Drink (under-counter RO, drinking water only) — $2,000 installed, ~$2/day financed
- Pure Home (whole-home refiner — filter + soften) — $8,000 installed, ~$3/day financed
- Total Home Bundle (both systems, one install) — $10,000 installed, ~$3/day financed — this is what most of our customers choose
Every system includes professional installation, a lifetime warranty, and a 3-year full service plan on the bundle. No hidden fees. No annual service charges. If something needs attention, we come back.
We also offer a free in-home water test — we come to your home, test your water on the spot, and show you exactly what's in it. No obligation. Most families are surprised by what we find.
If you're in a home with Ohio River source water, pre-1986 pipes, or documented PFAS contamination — the Total Home Bundle at $3/day is the most cost-effective way to protect your family. It costs less per day than most people spend on coffee and covers every contaminant in a single install.