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 was found completely frozen inside after a tenant turned off the heating and left the home unattended. Images showing thick layers of ice covering the walls, ceiling, and furniture have drawn 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 reported on the interior of a townhouse in Trois-Rivi?res, Quebec, that had frozen over. The released footage shows thick ice covering the walls, ceiling, furniture, and appliances throughout the home.

The affected property is a townhouse with three units. Only one unit was covered in ice, while the other two units reportedly remained unaffected. The situation was discovered during a routine building inspection when a neighboring unit was being visited.

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

Jacques Naud, the 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 to save on heating costs while away from the home." He added, "In subzero temperatures, the water pipes froze and burst, causing water to leak out, which then froze again, leaving the entire house encased in ice."

He expressed concern, saying, "With the recent rise in the cost of living, some tenants try to save on electricity bills by turning off the heat when they leave the house." However, he pointed out that failing to maintain at least minimal heating during winter can lead to severe damage from burst pipes.

He further stated, "There is a high possibility that water has seeped into the ceilings and walls, leading to mold growth," and added, "We plan to demolish the interior, dry it out, and rebuild within the scope of 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 for several months while leaving the home unoccupied and was officially evicted on January 5. Naud remarked, "This is the first time I have encountered 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 it an area with a high risk of burst water pipes if heating is turned off during winter. As news of the incident spread through media and social networking services, the home has come to be known locally as the "Ice Castle."