Block off cellar vents

angeljay

I live in a two bed terrace house with a cellar below the living room, there is only floorboards between the cellar and my living room and outside there is vented bricks which lets all the cold air into the cellar and comes up into my living room.

I have put insulation between the roof joists in the cellar but there is still gaps around the skirting boards where cold air gets in and you can feel a draft

The vented bricks outside are lower than the front yard which makes a hole down, what is the implications if I blocked this hole off with a concrete slab and prevented any cold air getting into the cellar.

I understand the cellar will still be cold but not as cold which should hopefully keep my living room warmer.

Thanks for the advice.

Owain_Moneysaver

Without ventilation you run the risk of mould or rot in the cellar, which could be very expensive in the long term.

Better to leave the cellar vented and caulk round the skirting boards.

muckybutt

The air vents are there for a reason, blocking them up would inevitably cause damp which is something you want to avoid at all costs.

You could try sealing around the skirtings from below with expanding foam as well as any other small gaps around the joists where the insulation is. What ever you do though don't block up the vents.