Calgary cold snap causes frozen pipes, long AMA wait times and increase in EMS calls

A bone-chilling, record-breaking cold snap has caused problems for many Calgarians, like bursting pipes, long wait times for battery boosts and increased risk of frostbite.

As of 5 p.m. on Monday, wind chill values were around –43  in the city.

The extreme cold weather has frozen pipes inside some homes and buildings, said the city's manager of drinking water distribution Chris Huston on Monday.

He says since Christmas, the city has received roughly 50 calls for it.

"Most of the calls we're getting, it's because cold air … is getting inside a building and freezing pipes," Huston said.

During this time, Huston says residents should avoid leaving windows open, especially in the basement.

"That's not recommended. Or if you're going to do that, make sure that you have … either a space heater or something like that around."

It's also important to know where your home's internal water valve is, in case of a ruptured pipe, said the city manager.

"If you do get a ruptured pipe or something split and it's leaking, that's the valve that's going to turn the water off for you."

The cold weather has also caused headaches for motorists. The Alberta Motor Association currently has wait times of up to 42 hours for a battery boost, lockouts, flat tires and fuel delivery.

According to the AMA website, the company says during extreme weather conditions, fleet experiences are higher than normal service requests.

"The average wait time will increase as we prioritize members in unsafe conditions," read the AMA website.

To get towed by the AMA, the wait is up to 50 hours.

AMA says to protect your vehicle in cold weather, drivers should plug in their car, keep gas topped up, use winter tires and synthetic oils.