The new year is starting off with a cold snap in the Bay Area and freezing temperatures are beginning to take a toll on pipes, plants and people.

In some parts of the Bay Area, temperatures were expected to dip into the 20's Wednesday night.

The Livermore Homeless refuge handed out more mats than usual Wednesday night.

"It's difficult for the homeless to find a safe and warm place to be when temps drop into the 20s," said Bob McKenzie of the Livermore Homeless Refuge. "We had one lady show up the other night and say she actually had frost bite."

In San Ramon, the cold weather has made a broken water heater and urgent matter in one household.

"I started having my teenagers and wife complaining the showers weren't warm and the water wasn't very hot," said John Cristiano, a San Ramon resident.

California Coast Plumbing said business shot up 50 percent this week.

"A lot of pipes leaks outside for pipes breaking supply lines as well as demand on water heaters go up because of cold," said Aaron Eddy of California Coast Plumbing.

At Alden Lane Nursery in Livermore, workers either covered sensitive plants or moved them indoors.

"Any of your citrus plants, especially young plants are important to cover," said Heather Wissink, of the Alden Lane Nursery.

Workers said avocado and bougainvillea also need special attention during the cold weather.

"The first thing that we do and recommend doing, especially when we've had the dry weather that creates cold conditions is make sure to water," Wissink said.