Blocking up bedroom airbrick

[pearg93]

Hi

I have a large airbrick in an upstairs bedroom (see pictures). It's a 1930s house with cavity walls. No cavity insulation. I'm wondering whether I can block it up.

No open fire or gas heater in the bedroom. There's double glazed windows wkth trickle vents.

I think similar ones have been blocked up in the house and there's been no problems with condensation etc.

I'm not sure what function it'd serve that the window trickle vents wouldn't? Assume its from the days of open/gas fires etc. Seems to open directly into room and doesn't vent loft.

Assume if I were to block it it bricking it and covering with a skim of plaster would be best?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Assume if I were to block it it bricking it and covering with a skim of plaster would be best?

Yep, cut the metal cover out, brick up and plaster it over.

 

[fourtytwo]

Don't forget to block the holes in the external vent or you may get unwelcome visitors!
I used silicone applied from the inside, cannot see it from the outside.

 

[pearg93]

Thanks, was yours a similar situation? Can't see the problem with blocking it up given the windows have vents

 

[pearg93]

Don't forget to block the holes in the external vent or you may get unwelcome visitors!
I used silicone applied from the inside, cannot see it from the outside.

Thanks, was yours a similar situation? Can't see the problem with blocking it up given the windows have vents

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

I'd block it with a bit of plastic (ice cream tub or something) taped over it and see how things fair through the winter/spring, then if all's well block it up properly then.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Can't see the problem with blocking it up given the windows have vents

They were included, in the days of coal fires, to allow plenty of ventilation. Now the only reason for ventilation is to avoid condensation and mould. Best to minimise that, with ventilation fans, extraction, where moisture is generated, at source - bathrooms, cookers, and washing being dried indoors.

 

[fourtytwo]

Thanks, was yours a similar situation? Can't see the problem with blocking it up given the windows have vents

Identical situation, I left it open till the DG surveyor said they could not accept it instead of trickle vents as it had no mechanical assistance (bloody stupid trickle vents don't have mechanical assistance). So as usual the law is an ass and I was forced to have trickle vents, hence vent now bricked up in several rooms.