can i block airbricks to a cellar

[tebbo66]

hi folks
i have an olde 30's brick semi, built on the side of a hill ( frontage facing up-gradient) in which i have just dug down under the stairs to open up cellars beneath both lounge and kitchen.
in an effort to stop draughts through the wooden t&g ground floors can i block up all, or any, of the airbricks venting these cellars ( both approx 5mx4m in size)?. Both spaces have 6 double brick vents located along the two courses of DPC.
I have already lined between the joists with 150mm loft insultaion as suggested in another thread.
i am also considering boarding out the ceiling at some point unless you recommend against.

i mentioned the hill and frontage facing up-gradient because these cellars also have a prob with damp inner walls along the front and gable ends, but thats a WHOLE different project

cheers in advance for any help

tebbo

 

[JohnD]

you can block them if you want the cellar to get increasingly damp, and to grow mildew and fungus, and possibly rot the wood, e.g. in the joists above.

Is this what you want? I think probably not.

 

[tebbo66]

i realise i need to leave SOME ventilation, i was considering using flexible vents to divert the draughts/air around the room should i decide to board out the ceiling. or is that a bad idea too ?