Everything is covered in ice: saving on heating turned into a disaster for an apartment owner

With energy prices skyrocketing, many are looking for ways to cut costs. However, one incident in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada, demonstrated that excessive savings in winter can have far more costly consequences.

In early January, apartment owner Jacques Nolte opened the door after his tenants had left and found himself trapped in an ice castle. The walls, ceilings, furniture, and appliances were covered in a thick layer of ice, and a veritable crust of ice about 30 centimeters thick had formed on the floor.

Fantastic ice formations appeared in the apartment, looking more like art installations than the remains of a utility accident.

As it later turned out, the cause was the tenants' attempt to save on heating. Before leaving for vacation, they had completely turned off the apartment's heating. The severe cold caused the water pipes to freeze and burst. Water filled the apartment and soon turned to ice.

The owner told local reporters that the damage is estimated at tens of thousands of dollars. Water has penetrated the walls and even the ceilings, creating a high risk of mold. He said the apartment will have to be completely gutted, dried out, and rebuilt. He plans to do this within the limits of his insurance coverage.