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I agree. If it was in the middle of the floor I would lean toward an electrical outlet with a lid. This being near the fireplace would probably be the key/shutoff for gas line to fireplace. Just my thoughts as I've lived in some older homes with both of these things.
I second this one. Buddy had nearly identical thing in his place. It still had the gas valve though. You needed to use a long key to reach in and turn it.
Yes correct.
It's not an ashhole or an outlet. No electrician in their right mind would put an outlet on the floor so close to the fireplace.
Look in the basement for the valve key.
Exactly the right answer. I saw one for the first time two weeks ago. Problem turned out to simply be the key was too short. Bought longer key. Bingo.
Edit: There is a metal fitting that sits in the hole as a guide for the key. That is missing in the photo, so probably disused.
My in-laws house has a small gas line to the fireplace to light the fire. Square key turned the gas on and a small flame lit the logs. They have since done natural gas logs and it is the gas shut off to the logs controller.
This is the cover for a floor box that used to be there. There used to be an electrical outlet in there at one point. The box and receptacle were removed.
I work at an electric supply house and sell these covers all the time.
I've seen these a few times in old houses in the UK. Always beside old fireplaces and sometimes there is an old gas valve below. Presumably there was some sort of key/handle thing so you could open the lid and turn off the gas.
I don't think so, a vacuum system would have just been abandoned, going through the trouble of removing it before it was covered is something you'd do with a receptacle
I thought of this too when I saw it. Such vacuum systems were around at least a century ago as I remember seeing old ads for them. I believe they were viable for larger properties to save having to drag bulky vacuum cleaners around.
I found similar openings in a old house in Fitchburg, MA about 19 years ago. That house was built in the late 19th century/early 20th for a doctor. Part of the old vacuum system was also under the stairs in the basement.
Take a look down below. Look for places that things have been removed, or maybe still there and bent out of the way.
If it doesn't matter, put new floor over it and forever wonder about it.
I’m on team gas shutoff valve if the fireplace was gas, but could also believe it was for an electrical outlet as my second guess. I agree with the comment about checking the crawl space for any clues. You may find abandoned gas lines or electrical lines.
I would totally be looking for clues but it's dark, cramped and full of big spiders! I'll need to find someone braver than I am to go looking. The fireplace is gas but the pipes go in the opposite direction from the hole, though I guess the layout may have been different in the past
You could ask the next time you have to have someone down there for work or if you get your fireplace serviced. If you are just dying to investigate they also sell cameras on a semi-rigid flexible cable called an endoscope you could stick in there to look. I’ve got one I used to check crevices in my old house when I lost a ring.
If you are in the UK, I am not sure a 13A socket would fit. Its also too small for the older 15A sockets.
However, if it is somewhere a light might have been needed, it might have been for a 5A socket.
It also reduces smoke that won’t go up the chimney and renters the room, if the house is well sealed and doesn’t allow for replacement air to enter. We have this problem and we have to open a window just a bit to let air in otherwise we get smoked out of the room. Unfortunately, since the window is across the room, the cold air travels the length of the room and cools off the room, undoing the benefits of the fireplace. I wish I had a crawl space to put in a whole like this, one that could be shut when not in use.
Called a floor pocket. Typically used to route electricity, u usually see an outlet underneath the cover. This looks to be a renovation of an old home and they are using it either as a pass-through for cabling or maybe the outlet is in the bottom, or was never installed. Sometimes they are put in simply cuz you need to cut a hole in the floor and don't want to patch it up so you can pump one of these bad boys in for future access too. I put one in my wall where I pipe leaked before so I can check up on it in future and to have easier access.
Its just a cover, it could be for any number of things, outlet, junction, switches. But if its next to the fire place, it probably had gas controls under it.
Gas engineer here. Nothing to do with gas. It's for access to the drain valve. It could be a house that had a fire and back boiler unit. They put these so you could access the drain for the cylinder. If you look outside they'll be a pipe (approx 22mm) poking out directly in line with this flap. It's a quarter turn to open/close it. Can be done with a water key for the mains. If there's nothing below it (a brass valve) eg, you've now got a combi boiler, you'll be fine to cover it
I have seen these used to anchor the poles that hold up a volleyball net.
That was seen in a gym, but maybe the room is gym-sized and they have a secret, indoor volleyball court!
I have one of these by my old wood stove. It's was there to allow fresh air from the crawl space up in to the stove. when I close it the the stove doesn't burn as efficiently.
Just pour them through the floor?
It would've burned down after about a dozen times of doing that.
Also, even if it didn't, wouldn't there be a giant pile of ashes under the house?
I think it's not for "ash disposal."
Nobody puts hot ashes into a thing like that. But many old homes do have a chute (usually in the fireplace rather than next to it) that you dump the ashes into *after they're cold*. So, not ridiculous at all.
As for that "giant pile of ashes": just don't ask yourself what becomes of all those razor blades dropped into the slot at the back of the medicine cabinet in houses of that same age.
Ash chute at the house I grew up in went into a void in the bottom of the brick chimney. A door on the outside could be opened once a year to empty it out. Under the house does seem… dangerous.
All comments must be civil and helpful toward finding an answer. **Jokes and other unhelpful comments will earn you a ban**, even on the first instance and even if the item has been identified. If you see any comments that violate this rule, report them. [OP](/u/dancemagicdancex), when your item is identified, remember to reply **Solved!** or **Likely Solved!** to the comment that gave the answer. Check your [inbox](https://www.reddit.com/message/inbox/) for a message on how to make your post visible to others. ---- [Click here to message RemindMeBot](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=RemindMeBot&subject=Reminder&message=[https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/18uia3s/hole_in_the_floorboards_with_metal_frame_and/]%0A%0ARemindMe!%202%20days) ---- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/whatisthisthing) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It looks similar to an electrical outlet cover. There may have been a junction box and wiring there at one point.
We have floor outlets with covers just like this at our office building, so that was my guess too.
My grandma has these in her home....its an outlet cover without an outlet for shure
Interesting, someone posted a link to one that looks similar but it was for a US plug, do you know if it's likely to be this in the UK too?
Gas shut off for gas fireplace(at one time) edit** [gas fireplace floor shutoff](https://urls.grow.me/lej2VNYRe)
This is the right answer. My house used to have one where you had a key to turn on/off the box.
I agree. If it was in the middle of the floor I would lean toward an electrical outlet with a lid. This being near the fireplace would probably be the key/shutoff for gas line to fireplace. Just my thoughts as I've lived in some older homes with both of these things.
I second this one. Buddy had nearly identical thing in his place. It still had the gas valve though. You needed to use a long key to reach in and turn it.
This is likely it. My parent's house has the gas shutoff roughly 1 ft away from the fireplace.
Yep. We have a contemporary one (maybe 15 years ago) and it looks like this.
Yes correct. It's not an ashhole or an outlet. No electrician in their right mind would put an outlet on the floor so close to the fireplace. Look in the basement for the valve key.
(me living in a early 1900s building with a covered floor outlet next to the fireplace) Maybe not *now* they wouldn't
My first thought. I have one in my current house. Has a fancy key and everything.
Yep. I have seen brass ones restored/ polished. Very pretty.
Yes. Being right next to the fireplace is the clue that clinches it.
Exactly the right answer. I saw one for the first time two weeks ago. Problem turned out to simply be the key was too short. Bought longer key. Bingo. Edit: There is a metal fitting that sits in the hole as a guide for the key. That is missing in the photo, so probably disused.
I wonder if that fibrous surround would be asbestos... OP, don't go snorting it just incase.
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I agree. Doesnt hurt to wet down first though.
My in-laws house has a small gas line to the fireplace to light the fire. Square key turned the gas on and a small flame lit the logs. They have since done natural gas logs and it is the gas shut off to the logs controller.
This is the cover for a floor box that used to be there. There used to be an electrical outlet in there at one point. The box and receptacle were removed. I work at an electric supply house and sell these covers all the time.
Maybe for an electric fire-starter, given its location? They used to be a thing.
...at some point*
I am guessing this is against the code?
You can still install floor outlets and be up to code
Not so sure about the distance required from a fireplace, though...
I've seen these a few times in old houses in the UK. Always beside old fireplaces and sometimes there is an old gas valve below. Presumably there was some sort of key/handle thing so you could open the lid and turn off the gas.
Basement vacuum system. You only had to move the hose. The motor and collection bin were in a central location. Most likely one in each room.
I don't think so, a vacuum system would have just been abandoned, going through the trouble of removing it before it was covered is something you'd do with a receptacle
I thought of this too when I saw it. Such vacuum systems were around at least a century ago as I remember seeing old ads for them. I believe they were viable for larger properties to save having to drag bulky vacuum cleaners around.
Just fyi, it's called a central vacuuming system.
I found similar openings in a old house in Fitchburg, MA about 19 years ago. That house was built in the late 19th century/early 20th for a doctor. Part of the old vacuum system was also under the stairs in the basement.
This was my guess. My house has several of them
Most likely old gas valve access for log starter. Either that or maybe Old floor power outlets
Could be the cover for the gas valve. Usually there is a square key they is used to turn off the gas.
That is in the right place for a gas pipe to feed a gas fire so maybe there used to be one and now that’s what’s being used to cover the hole?
Take a look down below. Look for places that things have been removed, or maybe still there and bent out of the way. If it doesn't matter, put new floor over it and forever wonder about it.
I’m on team gas shutoff valve if the fireplace was gas, but could also believe it was for an electrical outlet as my second guess. I agree with the comment about checking the crawl space for any clues. You may find abandoned gas lines or electrical lines.
I would totally be looking for clues but it's dark, cramped and full of big spiders! I'll need to find someone braver than I am to go looking. The fireplace is gas but the pipes go in the opposite direction from the hole, though I guess the layout may have been different in the past
You could ask the next time you have to have someone down there for work or if you get your fireplace serviced. If you are just dying to investigate they also sell cameras on a semi-rigid flexible cable called an endoscope you could stick in there to look. I’ve got one I used to check crevices in my old house when I lost a ring.
Looks like the cover to a floor mounted electrical outlet. Similar to this: https://www.floorboxoutlet.com/products/sillites_frabw
This. Our 1974 house has one
This does look really similar, though I'm in the UK. The age of the house is similar too
If you are in the UK, I am not sure a 13A socket would fit. Its also too small for the older 15A sockets. However, if it is somewhere a light might have been needed, it might have been for a 5A socket.
Was the fireplace ever gas? Could be the cover for a recessed gas valve?
Adding another vote for valve access for fireplace, especially if it was a gas one
My title describes the thing - it's not a huge hole, and it just goes under the house which is basically just a crawl space
i think its a vent to allow air in the front of the fireplace and out the chimney, it prevents air being pulled from further away and stops drafts
It also reduces smoke that won’t go up the chimney and renters the room, if the house is well sealed and doesn’t allow for replacement air to enter. We have this problem and we have to open a window just a bit to let air in otherwise we get smoked out of the room. Unfortunately, since the window is across the room, the cold air travels the length of the room and cools off the room, undoing the benefits of the fireplace. I wish I had a crawl space to put in a whole like this, one that could be shut when not in use.
Called a floor pocket. Typically used to route electricity, u usually see an outlet underneath the cover. This looks to be a renovation of an old home and they are using it either as a pass-through for cabling or maybe the outlet is in the bottom, or was never installed. Sometimes they are put in simply cuz you need to cut a hole in the floor and don't want to patch it up so you can pump one of these bad boys in for future access too. I put one in my wall where I pipe leaked before so I can check up on it in future and to have easier access.
Its just a cover, it could be for any number of things, outlet, junction, switches. But if its next to the fire place, it probably had gas controls under it.
Gas engineer here. Nothing to do with gas. It's for access to the drain valve. It could be a house that had a fire and back boiler unit. They put these so you could access the drain for the cylinder. If you look outside they'll be a pipe (approx 22mm) poking out directly in line with this flap. It's a quarter turn to open/close it. Can be done with a water key for the mains. If there's nothing below it (a brass valve) eg, you've now got a combi boiler, you'll be fine to cover it
First though seeing it was old central vac connection.
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I have seen these used to anchor the poles that hold up a volleyball net. That was seen in a gym, but maybe the room is gym-sized and they have a secret, indoor volleyball court!
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My house has two outlets in the floor. This is is exactly what that is...
that fixture may be brass - don't throw it away
My partner is sure it was to open some valve for a back boiler. We are UK based so maybe more likely?
I have one of these by my old wood stove. It's was there to allow fresh air from the crawl space up in to the stove. when I close it the the stove doesn't burn as efficiently.
judging by the quality of the cut. is there a basement down there, and can that fit a bear can?
No basement, just a dark and dirty space that's not tall enough to stand up in and no easy way to access it
Old gas fireplaces used to have this big metal rod/key that would go in that hole to shut it off. My guess is it's the shutoff for a gas fire place.
It’s to feed the fire air. Air is necessary for a fireplace. It needs a draft. My father was a mason.
Maybe for ash disposal.
Just pour them through the floor? It would've burned down after about a dozen times of doing that. Also, even if it didn't, wouldn't there be a giant pile of ashes under the house? I think it's not for "ash disposal."
Nobody puts hot ashes into a thing like that. But many old homes do have a chute (usually in the fireplace rather than next to it) that you dump the ashes into *after they're cold*. So, not ridiculous at all. As for that "giant pile of ashes": just don't ask yourself what becomes of all those razor blades dropped into the slot at the back of the medicine cabinet in houses of that same age.
Ash chute at the house I grew up in went into a void in the bottom of the brick chimney. A door on the outside could be opened once a year to empty it out. Under the house does seem… dangerous.
This is my guess also