Articles by Argile

A descale is judged on readings, not on a feeling that the flow has come back. The only benchmarks that stand up are regulatory ones: the hot water temperatures of the French order of 30 November 2005, the ambient carbon monoxide limits of the order of 15 September 2009, and the reference efficiency of the 3CL-DPE 2021 method. Here is what you measure before and after, what you compare it against, and why lowering the hot water setpoint to fight scale runs into a public health floor.

6 min read

On a renovation job, acoustic comfort often comes down to a detail your clients notice right away. Good separation between rooms also depends on choosing the right door set and careful installation, gaps, seals, threshold and frame included. By mastering the expected levels and checkpoints, you avoid callbacks and add value to your work from day one.

5 min read

On a job site, choosing between a complete pathway or step-by-step works changes everything, budget, schedule, and end results. You, the tradesperson, have an interest in deciding early, based on the state of the building, how the dwelling is used and the subsidies available. With a simple method, you secure your margins and avoid unnecessary rework.

4 min read

When a system starts heating "on its own", those are kWh going out the door that nobody asked for. In renovation, the right check valve in the right place helps you block this parasitic circulation, protect comfort, and prevent heat feeding back between circuits. A few simple checks secure commissioning and cut down on callbacks.

5 min read

After a job, real relief comes from being able to prove everything holds up. With a thermal imaging camera, you can spot thermal bridges, airtightness defects or poorly installed insulation in a few minutes, before the customer discovers them the first winter. That secures your handover, your end-of-job photos and your reputation.

5 min read

When a heat pump or boiler feeds several zones, flow rates quickly start fighting each other. By clearly separating production from distribution, you stabilise the circulators, make balancing easier, and avoid returns that are too cold and drag down efficiency. The result: an installation that's simpler to set up, and fewer callbacks for you.

6 min read

Between shifting subsidies, quotes to compare and works to sequence, your clients often ask you the same questions. With a few clear answers ready to go, you save time, set the framework, and avoid misunderstandings before the visit even happens. It's a simple way to protect your projects and build trust.

5 min read

When water is very hard, boilers take more punishment than expected. A simple upstream adjustment can limit scale build-up, stabilise efficiency and cut down on breakdowns that always happen at the worst time. As a tradesperson, you get a more reliable installation and clients who notice the difference over time.

5 min read

When a job "loses heat," your customers feel it right away on their bill... but not always to the naked eye. With an infrared camera survey, you can spot heat-leaking zones in a few minutes, and prioritise the right fixes. The result: a clear diagnosis, better-targeted work, and fewer discussions at the end of a job.

5 min read

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) measures how much cooling an air conditioner produces over a season for each kWh of electricity it uses: 8.5 or more earns class A+++, and 4.6 is the legal floor for a split under 6 kW. This article explains how it is calculated under EN 14825, how it differs from EER and SCOP, what value to aim for, and how to convert it into kWh to put a figure on a bill in front of the client.

10 min read

When a heat pump operates with too low a flow rate, trouble arrives fast: noise, short cycles, faults and service callbacks. As a tradesperson, you can secure the installation right from commissioning with a simple setup that stabilises circulation, even when thermostatic valve heads close. The result: a calmer heat pump, and a job that runs smoothly.

5 min read

On site, the choice of material for distributing heat can either save you hours or cost you them. Steel, copper or PEX each have their own installation habits, points of caution, and contexts where they become the best fit. By clarifying the home's constraints and your installation practices, you secure a clean, durable result that's easy to maintain.

5 min read