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I am renting a house that has no central air, instead we have to use window units. There is evidence that the house used to have a gas heater, and there is a 2 foot by 3 foot hole in the floor leading to the crawlspace beneath the house with a grate placed over it. The landlord said she won't cover it, because it is for ventilation. Is this hole still necessary, or can I cover it up?

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  • I have the same kind of grate left over from an old heating system. If you decide to cover it, I'd recommend painting plywood black and attaching it to the underside of the grate. It makes things blend in. If the crawlspace is unconditioned, you could put R-board insulation on the plywood. Jul 29, 2014 at 11:37
  • You don't vent uninsulated crawl-spaces into the house, you vent them outdoors to prevent moisture buildup. It's a mold health hazard issue. Jul 29, 2014 at 14:39

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If that grate-covered hole is in a "common area" and up against a wall, you can bet that it was once a floor furnace. The combustion boxes on older gas floor furnaces would crack over time (decades) and become a carbon monoxide (CO) danger to inhabitants due to flue gas escaping into the home instead of going up and out the vent pipe. A utility inspector would red-tag (forbid the use of) the furnace when a new renter called for assistance with lighting the pilot light. Instead of replacing the unit, the landlord takes the easy way out and removes it, patching the wall above but with no easy way of repairing the hole in the floor. I have seen this exact scenario before.

To confirm, go up in the attic and see if there is an old vent pipe above the general area. If so, then go ahead and cover up that unneeded "ventilation" hole. It probably allows a musty smell in the house anyway. Do not disturb the old vent pipe if it appears to be something other than metal, it may be Transite pipe, which contains asbestos (a carcinogen).

Make sure there is really no functioning heating equipment down there before you cover it up (fire hazard). Your gas supply utility will send a technician to confirm for free if you tell them you have a safety concern.

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  • In most areas of the U.S., a landlord is required to provide adequate means for safely heating a rented living space. Jul 29, 2014 at 3:25

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