Water softener - What should be considered? Recommendations?

But these aren't those voodoo things with magnets, are they?

No, they work without magnets and not by ion exchange. Just google "Alternative water hardness stabilization". Always make sure to look for the DVGW W510 certification mark when buying such a system.

But such a system does not soften the water, and that is exactly what I want to achieve when showering!

The hardness of the water remains the same when measured, the lime precipitates on crystallization centers and not on the pipes and heating rods. Depending on what you want to achieve, you should choose a solution. We did not want to change the sodium content and the taste of the water and still protect the sanitary installation.

Hmm and you also don’t have to clean as much. So, just for pipe protection, such a system would be too expensive for me....

Cleaning becomes easier, the limescale can be wiped off because the crystals are larger. Even with the ion exchangers, you cannot completely reduce the limescale and some residue remains that precipitates. Unfortunately, cleaning is necessary with both solutions :-(

We have a BWT system for 2300 including installation. Before 28° - that was a month full of cleaning! Man, how the sink looked! Showering without wiping afterwards was out of the question! I don’t want to go without it anymore!!!

Before, we had a Grünbeck (in the old apartment), which also worked well!