Hello all,

Please take a look this image
http://i56.tinypic.com/4vjxw6.png

Can someone tell me
Q1> What the usage of this hole?

Q2> Should I seal it?

Thank you

You picture was not visible I opend the link and down loaded you picture, see the image below, please tell us what is this duct used for, Thanks.

John

Yes, what it part of.

Top part looks like a heat supply registrar to me John.

It is either an HVAC supply or return, although they usually don't put flex on a return. I see a lot of water pipes there, maybe opening put there to add heat during the winter so pipes don't freeze. Concealed space? Where are you located?

@John,
I have no idea what that pipe is used for.

@ma0641,
I am at IL.

Is there a way that I can test this and find out what the usage of this pipe?

Thank you

YUP! Turn the heat or AC on and check to see if warm/cool air blows out the sheet metal pipe. If air blows out the hole then this is simply a hole cut into the pipe to warm the area as Ma0641 suggested.

Normally, you would cover the hole in the pipe using a heat-resistant metal tape... this restores balance to the system as it was originally designed. With that being said, however, if you have never noticed a "horrible" imbalance of heat between that room above and the other rooms around it and you want to continue to "steal" a little heat/ac to keep the water meter and associated tubing warmed during any extremely cold weather then you can probably just leave it as it is. Up to you... ;)

If no air flows from the hole, let us know, but most likely you have a heat/AC duct pipe there and all is as described above.

Mark

@massplumber2008,

I think you may be right. The hole was used to heat the water valve so that it isn't frozen during the winter time.

I will check the other parts and update you soon.

Thank you

Are we brilliant or what!!

Yes, agree with ma 100%, actually had one myself. A better idea is to wrap the meter and pipe with thermostatically control heat tape. I set my heat down to 45 degree when I am awy but crawl space can get much colder than that. Heat tape has been doing the trick for me for years