removing completely (?) air vent on steam riser
 

Hi,

in by bathroom there is a steam riser pipe with an airvent.
I don't really know why the airvent is there. possibly to allow
for the steam to rise faster.

This vent very frequently gets bad (loud banging noises, like banging
with a hammer),
possibly because the pressure gets out of control in the steam riser
pipe.
Can i remove it completely and just place/screw a bolt at its place?
It just seems that there is a hole drilled in the pipe and the vent was
placed there.

Anything bad with that or is the air vent really needed?

TIA
michael