Block up air brick?

Kat8209

Hi all. Have recently bought a new house. When decorating in the bedroom there was one small patch of paint that would keep cracking. A couple of days later I had a new blind fitted and where a hole was drilled close to the painted area the guy commented the dust that cane out was damp - my heart sank! I have had someone out to check the guttering and the roof, both reported to be sound. The roofing guy says he think that moisture is getting in through the air brick (think that’s what they’re called) it is not a vent that comes all the way through into the bedroom, just one that seems to go into the wall cavity, I have another vent which comes all the way into the bedroom on the other side of the window so there is a means of ensuring ventilation gets into the room. Would it be okay to block the air brick up and see if that resolves the issue or am I likely to cause a whole load of other issues? I have attached a picture of the air brick (very small - sorry!) there is also some slight cracking to the render underneath the brick. The air brick is shared with next door and he is happy to have it blocked up. 

stuart45

Which house is yours? The concrete or plastic gutters?

molerat

I can't see it being that vent.  My money is on the concrete guttering which looks like it has roofing felt stuck in it.

greyteam1959

Could be something to do with the end stop in the concrete guttering that is allowing a small leak into the air brick ??

carefullycautious

Looks like a Wimpey no fines house. Stone cement and plaster on outside. Well known for damp issues. There is no way you should be blocking that air vent. I have seen condensation running down the walls of a flat with no ventilation. Also dont put any furniture against walls allow air flow always.