Turned Off the Heat and Left: Canadian Apartment Turns Into a Real Freezer, Dubbed the 'Ice Castle'

Abandoned Home Freezes Over After Burst Water Pipes
Canadian House Turns into "Ice Castle" Amid Minus 16°C Cold Wave

In Quebec, Canada, where a severe cold snap has persisted, an apartment interior completely froze while the tenant was away with the heating turned off. Images showing the walls, ceiling, and even furniture covered in thick ice have attracted significant attention locally.

Interior view of a townhouse in Quebec, Canada, frozen due to burst water pipes. Nouveau Info

Recently, Canadian media outlets such as CTV News released footage of the interior of a townhouse in Trois-Rivi?res, Quebec, frozen solid. The video revealed thick layers of ice covering the walls, ceiling, furniture, and appliances throughout the home.

The affected property is a townhouse consisting of three units. Only one unit was covered in ice, while the other two were reportedly unaffected. The situation was discovered during routine building management when a staff member visited a neighboring unit.

Interior view of a townhouse frozen due to burst water pipes in Quebec, Canada. Photo by CTV News

Jacques Naud, owner of the building and head of the management company Logispro Mauricie, explained in an interview with the media, "The tenant turned off the heating completely and left the house to save on heating costs. In subzero temperatures, the water pipes froze and burst, causing water to leak out, which then froze and covered the entire house in ice."

He expressed regret, stating, "With the recent rise in living costs, some tenants try to save on electricity bills by turning off the heating when they leave home." However, he pointed out that failing to maintain at least minimal heating during winter can lead to serious damage from burst pipes.

He added, "There is a high risk of mold developing as water has seeped into the walls and ceiling. We plan to demolish the interior, dry it out, and rebuild within the scope of the insurance coverage."

Interior view of a townhouse in Quebec, Canada, frozen due to burst water pipes. TikTok

The tenant in question reportedly had not paid rent and had been absent from the property for several months, and was officially evicted on January 5. Naud added, "This is the first time I have experienced such an extreme situation."

Meanwhile, the average temperature in Quebec in January ranges from a low of minus 16 degrees Celsius to a high of minus 6 degrees Celsius, making the region particularly susceptible to burst water pipes if heating is turned off during winter. As news of the incident spread through the media and social networking services, the property has become known locally as the "Ice Castle."