I have a front porch that I have hired a company to repair. They will
be tuckpointing and replacing a step. Under the porch is a fruit
cellar accessible from the basement. It has cinder block walls, no
exposed dirt. There is a vent in the side of the porch from the
cellar. I am concerned about rodents and insects having access to the
house thru this vent. My contractor has offered me the option of a
chimney vent to replace this vent or to just seal it off. Is there a
good reason not to seal it. The cellar is unused.

On May 14, 4:29 pm, wrote:
I have a front porch that I have hired a company to repair. They will
be tuckpointing and replacing a step. Under the porch is a fruit
cellar accessible from the basement. It has cinder block walls, no
exposed dirt. There is a vent in the side of the porch from the
cellar. I am concerned about rodents and insects having access to the
house thru this vent. My contractor has offered me the option of a
chimney vent to replace this vent or to just seal it off. Is there a
good reason not to seal it. The cellar is unused.

I would make sure that some air is exchanged with the basement.
Some moisture probably seeps into the air from the ground through the
wall and slab. If not allowed to mix with other air and balance the
relative humidity, it will probably start a mold forest.
T

On May 14, 3:29 pm, wrote:
I have a front porch that I have hired a company to repair. They will
be tuckpointing and replacing a step. Under the porch is a fruit
cellar accessible from the basement. It has cinder block walls, no
exposed dirt. There is a vent in the side of the porch from the
cellar. I am concerned about rodents and insects having access to the
house thru this vent. My contractor has offered me the option of a
chimney vent to replace this vent or to just seal it off. Is there a
good reason not to seal it. The cellar is unused.

If you never plant to use the root cellar then there is no reason not
to seal it. Root cellars are made with a vent in order to remove the
humidity.

A real root cellar is constructed seperate from the basement. So
long as yours is not connected to a basement then no worries. If
it's connected then you may have the problem the other guy said, a
buildup of moisture in the basement. If you decide to use it in the
future then a vent can be re-installed