bitter cold takes hold

bitter cold takes hold Wakatipu and Central Otago plumbers were rushed off their feet yesterday tending to burst and frozen pipes as the big freeze clocked in near to record lows of more than minus 11 degrees Celsius in places. Foley Plumbers Central director Chris Flannery, of Alexandra, said they had "40-plus" calls - their most ever in a day and a 50%. "We've had frozen pipes, no water to taps. "We've had five with a lot of flooding. Homes with ceiling insulation laid beneath rather than above pipes were worst affected. "The water was frozen (instantly) as he was emptying it off outside into a drain. Freezing temperatures were expected to continue throughout the week with a possible short break around Friday. Alexandra had been sitting on minus 7 and 8 on Saturday and Sunday mornings. "It was in the negatives there from 6pm on Sunday night until noon yesterday. Ngai Tahu Tourism southern region jetboating manager Clark Scott said large chunks of ice "the size of food platters" had kept Shotover Jet off the water for several days. Queenstown's early morning temperature, recorded at Frankton, was minus 7. Queenstown's coldest low was minus 12. Queenstown-based Advantage Plumbing was called to Marina Heights, Arrowtown, Dalefield and Fernhill, including a big apartment block where holiday guests arrived to many apartments with frozen pipes. Office manager Ruth Dereus said she received about 12 calls about frozen pipes in four hours yesterday morning. 3C. Arrowtown took the prize, clocking in a big chill of minus 11. Queenstown recorded minus 6C on Saturday and it was minus 6C from 5am until 9am on Sunday. Plumbers were expecting even more than the dozens of calls received yesterday with another minus 6C forecast for Queenstown last night and a continued chill around the district. Alexandra awoke to a bone-chilling minus 8. Niwa senior climate scientist Georgian Griffiths said Alexandra's record July low was minus 11. MetService forecaster John Crouch said Ranfurly recorded minus 9C on Saturday morning and minus 10C on Sunday morning. A low of minus 9C in the Cardrona Valley yesterday morning proved disastrous for a Wellington family arriving at their holiday home to frozen pipes. Plumbers were warning people to leave some heating on and turn the water off even if they were leaving their house for one night. . bitter cold takes hold Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 03/07/2012