Tap water tastes off
Dissolved solids and chlorine taste, reduced at the faucet.
★ 4.8 Stars · 8,500+ Google Reviews · Calls answered 24/7
Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Systems in Northern California
Tired of hauling bottled water home? Tap water tastes off, or you're worried about what's in it? Earl's Plumbing installs under-sink reverse osmosis systems for clean drinking and cooking water, right from your own faucet.
Call or text (530) 343-0330 — a real person answers calls day or night.
Earl's Plumbing installs and services reverse osmosis drinking water systems throughout Northern California, from Shasta County to Placer County, family-owned since 1998.
We install under-sink RO systems with a dedicated faucet, run lines to refrigerators and ice makers, replace filters and membranes, and fix leaking or messy existing installs, for city water and private wells, with no service call fee.
Call or text (530) 343-0330.
Free water check
$0 service call fee
Certified systems
Fridge & ice maker lines
Filter reminders
CSLB #772565
Start here
Free Water Check
- We check your water and what you're noticing
- RO, filter, or softener, explained honestly
- One upfront price, no pressure
No service call fee · City & well water
When Reverse Osmosis Makes Sense
RO is a drinking-water system. When the goal is better water to drink and cook with, it's hard to beat.
Done with bottled water
No more hauling cases home from the store.
Better coffee & cooking
Coffee, tea, soups, and baby formula start with cleaner water.
Cleaner ice
RO can often feed the fridge and ice maker too.
A specific concern
Lead, nitrates, arsenic, or PFAS, with a system certified for it.
Well water homes
Test first. RO is often one part of the plan.
Salt-based softener
RO at the kitchen is the classic partner for a softener.
An old RO that's a mess
Leaks, tangled tubing, and mystery filters, cleaned up.
How an Under-Sink RO System Works
It fits in the cabinet under your kitchen sink and gives you filtered water from its own faucet. Most systems have a few stages:
- Sediment prefilter catches grit, sand, and rust
- Carbon prefilter reduces chlorine taste and protects the membrane
- RO membrane reduces dissolved solids and certified contaminants
- Storage tank keeps filtered water ready at the faucet
- Post filter polishes the taste on the way out
What RO Can Reduce, When It's Certified to
Certification is the difference between a claim and a plan. We match the system to your concern.
Dissolved solids
The main job of the membrane, and a big part of taste.
Lead
Important in homes with older plumbing or fixtures.
Nitrates
A common concern on agricultural-area wells.
Arsenic
Certain forms, with a properly certified system.
Some PFAS
Look for PFOA/PFOS reduction claims specifically.
Chlorine taste & odor
Handled by the carbon stages.
Sediment
Caught by the prefilter before the membrane.
Fluoride
Many RO systems reduce it. Check the certification.
Look for NSF/ANSI 58 certification and the specific contaminant claims. For PFAS, see the EPA's guide to certified filters.
RO, Softener, or Whole-Home Filter?
They're not interchangeable. Buying the wrong one is how people end up with a filter they don't like.
🚰 Reverse osmosis
- Drinking and cooking water at one tap
- Can feed the fridge and ice maker
- Certified contaminant reduction
- Doesn't treat showers or laundry
🧂 Water softener
- Hardness, spots, and scale
- Treats the whole house
- Not a drinking-water filter
- See water softeners
🏠 Whole-home filtration
- Sediment, chlorine, iron, or odor
- Treats water as it enters the house
- Pairs well with RO
- See water filtration
The Honest Fine Print on RO
RO is great at its job. Here's what to know before one moves in under your sink.
It removes minerals too. Some people find RO water tastes flat. Remineralizing stages are an option.
Some water goes to drain. That's how the membrane rinses away what it rejects. Newer systems waste less.
It makes water slowly. A small tank keeps water ready. Heavy use can empty it for a while.
Filters need changing. Certified performance depends on keeping up with them.
It takes cabinet space. Filters, tank, tubing, and a drain connection.
Not every RO is the same. Certifications vary. We'll match it to your concern.
We Check First, Then Install It Clean
The classic RO complaint is "bought a filter, still hate the water." Here's how we avoid it:
- Free water check and a talk about what you're noticing
- City or well? Wells should be tested before choosing treatment
- Certified system matched to your goals
- Neat install with a dedicated faucet, drain connection, and tidy tubing
- Fridge or ice maker line when the layout works
Private wells: the CDC recommends testing at least once a year.
Already Have an RO System? We Service Those Too.
Inherited one with the house, or it just isn't working like it used to? We'll sort it out.
Filter & membrane changes
We'll identify the system and replace the right parts.
Filter reminders
We can keep track of your schedule and remind you when it's due.
Slow faucet
Clogged filters, low pressure, or a tank that's lost its charge.
Leaks under the sink
Loose fittings and worn tubing fixed before the cabinet swells.
Messy installs cleaned up
Tangled tubing and bad drain connections redone right.
Ice maker lines
New lines and ice maker filters.
Why Homeowners Choose Earl's for RO
Plumbers first, not a water-treatment sales team.
The right system
Matched to your water and certified for what you care about.
Clean, leak-free installs
Neat tubing and a proper drain connection, tested before we leave.
No scare tactics
Real answers about your water, not a color-changing demo.
No service call fee
Free water check and one upfront price.
We remind you
Filter changes tracked so your system keeps working.
Local for 28 years
Three Northern California offices, here when it needs service.
Good Drinking Water Shouldn't Come in a Case
A lot of families buy bottled water by the case because they don't trust what comes out of the tap, or just don't like how it tastes. A good RO system under the sink takes care of that for a lot less hassle, and no more lugging cases in from the car.
We'll check your water, tell you honestly whether RO is the right fit or if a softener or filter would serve you better, and install a certified system the right way. Then we'll help you keep up with the filters, because an RO that's overdue isn't doing its job.
— Clinton EarlOwner, Earl's Plumbing · Your Friend in the Business
28
Years serving Northern CA
8,500+
Google reviews
$0
Water check
24/7
Calls answered
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Call or Text Your Nearest Earl's Office
Three local offices covering eight Northern California counties. Every line takes calls and texts.
Redding
Redding · Anderson · Cottonwood · Shasta Lake · Palo Cedro · Red Bluff · Corning
(530) 244-3275
Book Your Free Water Check
Book in about a minute. Tell us if you're on city or well water and whether you want a line to the fridge.
1Pick your service
2Choose a time that works
3Get a confirmation — done
Rather talk to a person? Call or text (530) 343-0330 — we answer calls 24/7.
Not sure if you need RO, a filter, or a softener? Call and we'll help you decide: (530) 343-0330.
Reverse Osmosis Questions, Answered
What it removes, PFAS, minerals, water use, and filters. Straight answers here.
What does a reverse osmosis system remove?
Reverse osmosis reduces total dissolved solids, and systems certified for specific claims can reduce contaminants like lead, nitrates, arsenic, and some PFAS. Carbon stages improve chlorine taste and odor, and sediment stages catch grit. Exactly what a system reduces depends on its certification, so check for NSF/ANSI 58 and the specific contaminants it is certified to reduce.
Does reverse osmosis remove PFAS?
Many reverse osmosis systems can reduce certain PFAS, but not every system is certified for it. If PFAS is your concern, choose an RO system certified to reduce PFOA and PFOS, and replace the filters and membrane on schedule. The EPA keeps guidance on choosing home filters certified for PFAS reduction.
Does a reverse osmosis system waste water?
Traditional RO systems send some water to the drain while they make filtered water, because that water carries away what the membrane rejects. How much depends on the system design, water pressure, and membrane condition. Newer high-efficiency systems waste less, and keeping filters and the membrane serviced helps the system run efficiently.
Does reverse osmosis remove healthy minerals?
Yes. RO reduces dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium along with contaminants, which is why some people find RO water tastes flat. Most people get these minerals mainly from food. Some systems include a remineralization stage for taste. If you have specific dietary or medical concerns, ask your healthcare provider.
Can a reverse osmosis system connect to my refrigerator or ice maker?
Often, yes. An RO line can be run to a refrigerator water dispenser or ice maker when the layout and distance allow it, and the fridge manufacturer's requirements are met. Some refrigerators have their own filters that should be bypassed or removed. We look at the route and the appliance before recommending it.
How often do reverse osmosis filters need to be changed?
It depends on the system, your water, and how much you use. Sediment and carbon prefilters are typically changed more often, while the RO membrane lasts longer. Follow the manufacturer's schedule, and change filters sooner if flow slows or taste changes. Earl's Plumbing can keep track of your filter schedule and remind you.
Is reverse osmosis good for well water?
It can be, but test the well first. The CDC recommends private wells be tested at least once a year. Sediment, iron, hardness, or bacteria may need treatment before the RO system so the membrane is not damaged and the water is safe. RO is often one part of a well water plan, not the whole plan.
How much does a reverse osmosis system cost?
It depends on the system, what you're trying to reduce, your water source, and whether we run a line to the fridge. We start with a free water check, tell you honestly whether RO is the right fit, and give you one upfront price. There's no service call fee, and financing is available on approved credit.