Can I seal-off my yard WC permanently? Good or bad Feng Shui?

[Cecil Lee]

Case Study: Can I convert my yard WC into a store room?

1. The yard WC as highlighted in yellow:-

2. Frankly, no issue if one wants to convert this yard WC into a store room.

2.1. Generally it is considered a plus if the WC is beside the main entrance. As often the main entrance is in some instances critical to the Feng Shui of the home.

2.2. The concern is how the WC hole has been covered up.

2.2.1. For example, the correct way is to cap the WC hole as shown similar to this:-

2.2.2. Even if the capping is lower, this cap will still protude above the floor.

2.2.3. Thus if this is so, the floor has to be raised to make the new toilet cum store floor nice to look at. Instead of something like this protuding from the floor.

3. Another situation is that the yard WC ceiling is often low .. as low as the height of a condo kitchen ceiling.

3.1. If so, really, this store cannot really store much. Even that the volume of space is just too small.

4. Unfortunately, often the contractor just level the WC pipe/hole and place a plastic membrane over this WC hole.

4.1. And since the WC is no longer in use, the water trap seal does not act as a barrier for other unit's gas to flow into this hole.

4.2. On many occassions, a new client of mine invited to to audit their home.

4.3. And coincidentally, when I reach this store room, I could smell a very bad "sewerage" type of stench in this yard store room.

[Cecil Lee]

Can I convert this same Yard WC into a space to place a frontloading washing machine. (a washer + dryer) or a single top loading washing machine?

This is better than turning it into a store room with just a piece of membrane covering the WC hole.

The reason is that the frequent use of the washing machine means that this U trap will always be filled with water and thus a "permanent" seal.

[Cecil Lee]

Related: Additional Illustractions can be also found under this link