Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis in Plano

How reverse osmosis works, and who it suits

An RO system uses your household water pressure to push water through a tightly wound membrane. Its openings are fine enough to hold back dissolved minerals, many metals such as lead, and a wide range of trace compounds. Carbon stages on each side of the membrane take out chlorine-type taste and odor and give the water a final polish. Finished water waits in a small tank under the sink, so its own faucet fills a glass or pot at an even rate.

It makes sense when what worries you is drinking and cooking water: a taste you dislike, older fixtures that could add lead, or wanting to know more about what you are drinking. It does not treat the whole house. For shower taste or rust stains on fixtures, whole-house carbon filtration or iron and sediment filtration may be the better match, and we will point that out.

Plano's public water is treated and regulated, so fear is not part of how we talk about RO. We suggest it for better taste, for kitchens with aging plumbing, and for anyone who wants one more barrier between the main line and the kettle.

What comes with an RO installation

A water test before any quote

We check your tap water, including hardness and total dissolved solids, so the system matches what is actually coming in. If the results point to a problem RO will not solve, you hear that before anything else.

Filters and membrane sized to your use

A couple who drinks a few glasses a day needs a different setup than a family that cooks every meal with filtered water. We match membrane output, tank size and filter stages to that, and we offer a remineralizing stage if you prefer water with a little mineral taste.

A faucet that suits your sink

We carry finishes such as brushed nickel, matte black, chrome and stainless so the new tap sits comfortably beside your existing fixtures. Where there is an unused sprayer or soap opening, we use it. Drilling through quartz or granite is done slowly with the right bit and water cooling to keep the edge clean.

A tidy cabinet layout

The tank, filter housing and drain connection are mounted so you keep room for cleaning supplies and any pull-out bins. Tubing is cut to length and routed along the cabinet walls instead of looped across the floor.

Optional refrigerator or ice maker line

If you want filtered water at the fridge door, we can run a line from the RO system to it. We will mention if your fridge's own filter becomes redundant.

Signs an RO system is worth a look

• Your tap water tastes of chlorine

  A pool-like taste or smell in a glass of cold water is the complaint we hear most often. Carbon filters on either side of the membrane remove it before the water ever reaches your kitchen tap.

• You buy bottled water by the case

  If cases of water are a weekly errand, an under-sink system usually replaces them and frees up pantry space.

• Your home has older plumbing or fixtures

  Older faucets and pipe joints can add lead at the tap even when the water leaves the treatment plant clean. A test tells you, and RO is one of the more reliable ways to reduce it.

• Coffee tastes flat or ice comes out cloudy

  Dissolved minerals and treatment chemicals affect how coffee and tea taste and how clear ice looks. Many people notice the difference within the first week.

• A test showed high dissolved solids

  If a test reading came back high and you want lower numbers in your drinking water, RO is built for exactly that.

How the work goes

1. 1

   A conversation and a water test

   We start on the phone with what you have noticed and how your household uses water. Then we test at your tap so the recommendation rests on your results, not on a general sales pitch.

2. 2

   A written estimate with options

   You get a line-item estimate showing the system, the faucet, any extra connections and the expected filter costs. If a simpler option would do the job, it is on the page too.

3. 3

   Installation day

   We lay a mat in the cabinet and a cover on the floor, shut off the cold supply, and mount the system. Most installs take a few hours. We flush the filters and the new membrane before the water is ready to drink.

4. 4

   Checks and handover

   Once the tank fills, we check every fitting for leaks and take a dissolved solids reading before and after the system so you can see the difference. We show you how the filters come out and leave a dated replacement schedule inside the cabinet door.

What moves the price

The price of an RO system comes down to the equipment you choose and what we find under your sink. We explain each part of the estimate in plain terms. Ongoing filter costs are part of the picture, so we cover them before you decide.

System design

Tank systems and tankless units differ in price, footprint and waste water. Extra stages, such as remineralization or a UV lamp, add to the cost.

Faucet and countertop

Premium faucet finishes cost more than basic chrome. Drilling a new hole in stone takes more time than using an existing opening.

Extra connections

A line to the refrigerator or ice maker adds tubing and labor. Homes with low water pressure may need a small booster pump to keep the membrane working well.

Condition under the sink

Corroded shutoff valves or an awkward drain layout sometimes need attention before the system can connect safely. We point these out on the estimate rather than adding them on the day.

Filter replacement over time

Pre- and post-filters and the membrane all wear out. We give you the expected replacement intervals and costs so the full cost of ownership is clear.