Air vent in box room

Ames1983

I’ve just moved into a 1930s semi.
In the box room there is an air brick. Can I block this up!? It’s on an outside walk and in the room there is a radiator and double glazed window, but no chimney breast or any other appliance that I can imagine an air brick would be required for. Would there be a solid reason for requiring it to stay??
We’ll be turning it into a nursery so ideally if I’m able to it’ll keep a bit more heat in the room!
Thank you in advance!

Hasbeen

They used to put these in where larders were to keep food fresh/cold.

See no problems with blocking it up, put some handfuls of insulation in from inside and cover as you require.

Ames1983

That’s great! Thank you!

Fire_Fox

I would not until you have lived in the property for a good while, ideally including a whole winter.

Babies and small children need a well ventilated home as much as they need an appropriately heated one. Condensation damp and associated mould are potentially more harmful to them than to an adult.

JuzaMum

I have these vents in two of my bedrooms and they don't cause any problems. The amount of air that comes through isn't enough to make the room cold and you can't feel a breeze. I put a new cover on when I decorated. Something like this one which can be closed might be good?

https://www.diy.com/departments/manrose-white-adjustable-vent/258569_BQ.prd

EssexExile

I'm with Fire Fox. Leave it for a bit, if you must block it I'd just cover it up & leave it for a bit to see if you get any condensation.

Slinky

I had one of these in my room as a child - 1930s house. Wind howelled through it, and until Dad boxed through from the inside to the outside, all manner of spiders etc used to come in. He also put a metal grid cover on the inside. If you've got fireplaces in the other bedrooms, that's why there's no vents there, it was thought you'd need a good supply of fresh air coming into every bedroom, either through a chimney or an air brick. Knowing what it was like living in that room, I'd have no hesitation in blocking it up if that was my house now.

modelreject

Is your house solid or cavity? If 1930s it could be solid. If there is a radiator in there and the vent is blocked you're asking for damp of the walls. Also, depending on what direction the wall is facing it could get really bad ie North facing. As someone else has said, give it time and check over colder months. :-)

mmmmikey

I'd agree with the comments about the importance of ventilation. Mould is horrible stuff - especially for babies. Having said that, if the double glazed window has a trickle vent you could leave that open instead and block the air brick.