Articles by Argile

A tapping profile is a standardised draw-off sequence, not a marketing estimate. Regulation (EU) No 814/2013 defines ten of them, from 3XS to 4XL, each with its reference energy Qref and its maximum flow rate. The declared profile sets the water heating efficiency the appliance has to meet, and therefore what you can commit to on a quotation.

5 min read

Between selling all your production and using it on site, the right choice often comes down to 3 simple points: your client's profile, their usage patterns, and the actual value of a kWh depending on the time of day. As a tradesperson, you save time by asking the right questions upfront, then costing two clear scenarios, with no vague promises.

4 min read

In winter, you're looking for simple ways to gain a few degrees without adding to the bill or complicating the job. A well-designed glazed space, built against the facade, can capture the sun, store some thermal mass and take the load off heating when everything is properly set. It's up to you to turn that space into a real asset, with the right choices for orientation, ventilation and shading.

5 min read

External wall insulation under wood cladding turns on two sets of values, not on the choice of timber species. The first comes from NF DTU 41.2 and fixes the air gap, the ventilation and the framing: it decides whether the façade lasts ten years or comes back as a claim. The second comes from the grant schemes and fixes the thermal resistance of the insulation, with a threshold that changes depending on whether the work is a single measure or a whole-house retrofit.

5 min read

Stratification is not a comfort question, it is what sets the temperature the generator sees at its heat exchanger inlet. The French EPC calculation method puts a number on the effect of cylinder geometry: a loss coefficient of 0.33 for a horizontal unit against 0.20 for a class C vertical, which is 419 kWh a year apart at 200 litres. Here is the physics, the on-site measurement protocol and the settings that destroy the layers.

6 min read

In a water heater, the anode does the quiet job that keeps you from getting a callback for a perforated tank. Magnesium, titanium or impressed current, each solution has its own installation habits, checks and pitfalls, and that's often where everything is decided. Get this choice right and you secure the installation's lifespan and your client's peace of mind.

5 min read

On an external wall insulation job, the real headaches rarely start on the large façade surfaces. They happen at window reveals, sills, parapets, and all those small junctions that decide whether the finish is clean or whether rework keeps piling up. By mastering these singular points, you save time, secure the sealing, and deliver a clean result, without last-minute improvisation.

5 min read

When you add a recirculation loop to the domestic hot water (DHW) system, your clients gain comfort, and you gain peace of mind on callbacks. But that continuous circulation can also push up losses in the pipework, especially if insulation and control are rough. Getting the setting right is often just a few hours of fine-tuning to stop kWh leaking into the walls.

5 min read

In an apartment building, hot water is not a detail. It is a line item that weighs on the bill and quickly triggers calls when it runs short. In centralised collective systems, production backed by solar energy can really make a difference, provided you size it correctly, connect it properly, and plan operation from the start.

5 min read

Ground sealing is not primarily a question of material, it is a question of threshold and zoning. Above one hectare of project area, stormwater discharge moves into a water-law procedure; below it, the municipal stormwater zoning takes over and can require infiltration on the plot itself. Find out which of the two applies before you price the job, not after the refusal.

5 min read

On site, bonded and mechanically fixed EPS remains a safe bet when you need an exterior system that's fast to install, well mastered by crews, and easy to price. If you secure the substrate, flatness, and layout from the start, you save time on rework and avoid disorders that get expensive in callbacks. Here's a rundown of the right installation habits, the ones that make the difference between a façade that's just "put up" and one that lasts.

5 min read

In an apartment building, measuring heat "as fairly as possible" on paper is tempting. On the ground, these small devices can quickly become a source of disputes, between poorly balanced radiators, airing habits, and insulation work that varies unevenly from one home to another. It is well worth knowing their limits so you can explain things simply, make the right diagnosis, and avoid bad surprises at the end of the heating season.

5 min read