Keep Your Windshield Safe From Winter Weather This Year
If you want to prevent your windshield from cracking and needing repairs this winter, you need to make sure that you take proper care of it. Here are a few tips to ensure that your windshield makes it through the winter months and winter weather without needing any repairs.
Repair Any Rock Chips
If you already have a rock chip in your windshield, you need to get it fixed right away. A tiny rock chip can easily expand into a large crack in winter weather. Water and moisture gets inside of the crack, and expand when the moisture freezes. Take care of any rock chips in your windshield that you already have right away.
Change Your Wiper Blades
Next, you need to change out any old wiper blades. As your wiper blades get worn down, the plastic wears away and exposes the metal or plastic clips on your blades. These clips can cause severe scratches to develop in your windshield.
Additionally, older wiper blades will not clear the rain and snow as effectively from your windshield. This can result in poor visibility and can compromise your safety while driving.
Fill Up Your Washer Fluid Reservoir
Make sure that your washer fluid reservoir is filled with winter washer fluid. Your washer fluid should be an anti ice and fog mixture. Use your washer fluid on a regular basis; using your wipers and ice scraper on a dirty windshield can result in scratches and can even chip your windshield, which is why it is so important to keep your windshield clean during the winter months.
Use Your Ice Scraper To Remove Ice
Do not use your credit card, a metal spatula or a kitchen knife to remove ice from your windshield. These tools are not designed to remove ice and keep your windshield safe at the same time. Invest in a couple ice-scrapers and keep one in your trunk and one in the passenger area of your vehicle.
You can also use a spray de-icer in combination with an ice-scraper to clear the ice off your windshield when the ice is especially thick.
Don't Pour Hot Water On Your Windshield
Finally, do not pour hot water on your windshield to melt the ice on it. This extreme temperature change can cause your windshield to crack. Instead, use your ice scraper and a spray de-icer to clear your windshield of ice. You should also turn on your vehicle and turn on your defroster; this will slowly warm up your windshield and help melt the ice without shocking and cracking your windshield.
If you follow all the tips above, you should be able to protect your windshield and keep it safe from winter weather. These easy to implement tips will extend the life of your windshield.
To learn more, contact a windshield replacement company.
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