Quick price snapshot
| Your Problem | What It’s Called | Ironclad Price | Austin Range | Ask Why If Over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Want filtered drinking water at kitchen sink | Reverse osmosis system (under-sink) | $550 | $350-$800 | Over $950 |
What this price usually includes
This page isolates Ironclad’s published number for reverse osmosis system (under-sink) so you can compare one quote against the Austin market before you book anyone.
At Ironclad, the published reference point is $550. The broader Austin range we track is $350-$800. If you are being quoted over $950, the burden is on the company to explain the access problem, code upgrade, emergency timing, or scope change that pushes it there.
What moves the number up or down
Final pricing usually changes for one of four reasons: access, material grade, code-driven add-ons, or bundled work discovered after diagnosis. A clean quote should spell out which of those is driving the difference instead of hiding it behind vague line items.
Detailed breakdown
Ironclad price: $550 | Austin range: $350–$800
A multi-stage filtration system installed under the kitchen sink with a dedicated faucet (or connected to an existing faucet). Produces highly filtered drinking water at one point of use. Does not treat the whole house (that’s a water softener or whole-house filter).
Where your $550 goes at Ironclad:
You pay: $550.00
Credit card processing: - $16.50
Net to company: $533.50
Materials (RO system, faucet,
storage tank, drain saddle,
tubing, fittings): - $200 (36%)
Technician labor (1.5 hrs): - $70 (13%)
Truck / drive / dispatch: - $60 (11%)
Overhead: - $100 (18%)
Company profit: $103.50 (19%)
What makes it cost more than $550:
- Premium system with more filtration stages. A basic 3-stage RO is $100-$150 wholesale. A 5-stage or 7-stage system with remineralization, UV, or alkaline filters is $250-$500. Better filtration, longer filter life, better-tasting water.
- No existing hole in the sink or countertop for the dedicated faucet. Drilling through granite or quartz countertops requires a diamond bit and care. Adds ~$75-$150. Stainless steel sinks are easier.
- Connecting to refrigerator ice maker or water dispenser. Running a line from the RO system to the fridge adds tubing and a connection point. ~$75-$125 more.
What makes it cost less than $550:
- You buy the system yourself and have the plumber install. The RO unit itself is available at Home Depot, Costco, or Amazon for $150-$400. Labor-only install is ~$250-$350. But the plumber won’t warranty the system, only the connections.
RO vs whole-house softener vs whole-house carbon filter:
| System | What It Does | What It Doesn’t Do | Cost Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| RO (under-sink) | Removes almost everything from drinking water at one faucet | Does not treat showers, laundry, or other fixtures | $350-$800 |
| Whole-house softener | Removes hardness minerals from all water | Does not remove chlorine, chemicals, or contaminants | $1,500-$4,000 |
| Whole-house carbon filter | Removes chlorine, sediment, some chemicals from all water | Does not soften water (no hardness removal) | $1,000-$3,000 |
| Combo (softener + carbon) | Softens and filters all water | Still doesn’t produce RO-quality drinking water | $2,500-$6,000 |
Most Austin homes benefit from a softener (to protect fixtures and water heater from hard water) plus an RO at the kitchen sink (for drinking water). That combo runs $2,000-$4,800 total installed and addresses both the hard water damage problem and the drinking water quality question.
How to compare this quote
Use this checklist before you approve the work:
- Does the scope clearly match want filtered drinking water at kitchen sink or is the company quietly selling a bigger job?
- Are they showing why the quote is above Over $950 with photos, test results, or code notes?
- Are disposal, permit, restoration, and emergency premiums separated so you can see what is real and what is markup?
- If another option exists, did they quote it side by side instead of forcing one path?
If the answer is no, step back and compare against the full Austin plumbing price guide before approving anything.