Articles by Argile

Efficiency is the most quoted and least verified figure on a ventilation quote. Three frameworks measure it, with three different values, and only one binds you when you assemble a grant file. Here is how to read a datasheet, which threshold commits you, and what the unit really delivers once the ductwork is in.

5 min read

A heating circuit is a bit like a bloodstream. Once sludge and oxidation set in, breakdowns come faster and efficiency drops. As a tradesperson, you can secure the system right from initial fill or after a power flush, with protection that's simple to apply and easy to check over time. The result: fewer callbacks, circulators that last, and client comfort that stays stable season after season.

5 min read

When you're looking for where heat is escaping, you need a simple benchmark that sums up envelope losses without drowning you in ten different values. A good overall indicator helps you prioritize quickly, insulation, joinery, thermal bridges, and clearly explain your choices to the client. The payoff: clearer quotes and better-targeted work from the very first visit.

5 min read

On a facade, external thermal insulation (ITE) changes everything, including fire behaviour. As a tradesperson, you need to secure the job from the design stage onward — material choices, critical junctions, continuity, and how penetrations are treated — to stop a fire from spreading through the building envelope. With the right rules and the right reflexes, you gain in compliance, peace of mind and quality of installation.

5 min read

Solar heat transfer fluid is not a consumable you swap on a calendar: it is a product whose antifreeze concentration is capped at 50 % by the solar thermal reference standard, whose fresh pH sits between 9.0 and 10.5, and which decomposes above 200 °C while a stagnating collector can exceed that figure. Here are the four values to record on a service visit, the thresholds that trigger a drain, and what goes on the service record.

5 min read

The choice between self-regulating and humidity-controlled ventilation does not come down to a fitting preference but to a single figure: the floor flow rate you are allowed to hold. The French order of 24 March 1982 sets two different floors depending on whether the system modulates automatically, and the gap between them is close to a factor of three. Everything else, comfort, acoustics, consumption, follows from that.

5 min read

When you put a circuit back into service, the real risk is often hidden in what you can't see. Sludge, oxides and residues can seize a circulator, foul a heat exchanger, and cause performance to drop within the first few hours. By properly preparing the network, you secure commissioning, avoid callbacks, and your client feels the difference straight away.

5 min read

You're hearing more and more about decarbonized gases on job sites and from your clients, but between promises, costs, and constraints, it's hard to know what will actually hold up over 10 to 20 years. Your challenge is spotting the credible use cases, the equipment that might arrive, and the points of attention on safety, network, and maintenance, so you can advise without overselling. Here's a simple sort-through, to help you decide when to keep an eye on the topic, and when to stick with solutions that are already robust.

5 min read

When you fit a kitchen extraction system in a home equipped with mechanical ventilation (VMC), everything hinges on airflow balance. Properly connected and properly set, it prevents odor backflow, unnecessary depressurization, and clients who call back. A few simple checks on the ductwork secure the installation and save you time on the job site.

5 min read

Choosing between a solar water heater with an integrated backup and one with a separate backup is not a comfort decision: it decides the declared water heating efficiency of the package, the class required of the solar cylinder, and the number of service points you commit to holding. Here is the comparison of the two architectures and the product requirements that apply either way.

6 min read

An air pocket in a heating circuit costs you time on site. The right move is to plan ahead from the initial fill and to secure the venting to avoid noise, cold spots and customer callbacks. By mastering the high points and the simple gestures, you make the installation reliable without spending a whole day on it.

5 min read

When a client wants heat right away, with no lag, you need a solution that's simple to install and easy to explain. These panels deliver a fast rise in temperature and well-distributed comfort, provided you size them correctly and place them carefully. With a few key points, you can secure the job and avoid callbacks along the lines of 'it heats, but not where I need it.'

5 min read