While you might love spending your winters enjoying snowy weather, it can wreak havoc on your vehicle. One of the most vulnerable parts of your car during the colder months is your windshield, which faces constant exposure to freezing temperatures, ice, snow, and road salt. If not properly cared for, your windshield can quickly develop chips, cracks, or visibility issues that make driving unsafe.
Preparing your windshield for winter weather is essential to protecting both your car and your safety on the road. With a few simple steps, you can prevent damage, reduce stress on your wipers, and ensure a clear view even in the harshest storms. In this blog, we’ll explore six effective tips to get your windshield ready for the upcoming winter weather.
1. Replace Your Old Windshield Wipers
As winter weather rolls into town, you want to ensure you can maintain proper visibility, but without well-maintained windshield wipers, this can be difficult. Old windshield wipers may leave streaks and smudges of debris across your windshield, making it far more difficult to safely drive while it is snowing or raining.
If you’ve noticed your windshields are leaving streaks across your windshield, squeak while in use, or skip and miss debris or moisture buildup, this might be a sign that it’s time to invest in new windshield wipers. Replacing them before winter weather conditions worsen can help you ensure you have proper visibility when snow begins to fall.
2. Keep Your Windshield Clean
If you always seem to struggle with ice and fog buildup on the inside and outside of your windshield, this may be a sign that it’s time to give your windshield a thorough cleaning. This winter weather buildup loves to cling to the debris you’ll notice on your windshield. Leaving it unaddressed can lead to reduced visibility, especially while defrosting.
Clean your windshield at least once a week to remove any lingering debris and ensure there is nothing for the ice and fog to cling to while you’re driving. Make sure to avoid abrasive cleaning solutions, as this may damage the glass. Instead, use a low or zero ammonia cleaning solution to achieve the best clean possible.
3. Avoid Sudden Temperature Fluctuations
When your windshield is covered in thick ice buildup and snowfall, you may be tempted to use warm water to get rid of this buildup. It seems like a quick and easy way to clear your windshield without spending valuable time during your morning routine fighting with an ice scraper. But a quick solution can quickly spiral into a much larger issue.
Sudden temperature fluctuations caused by clearing your windshield with something like warm water can cause the glass to expand. This sudden expansion can lead to major cracks in the windshield, which may interfere with your line of sight. While it can be tedious to slowly chip away at ice, it’s always best to use proper removal tools to address winter weather debris.
4. Do Not Lift Your Windshield Wipers
It isn’t uncommon to spot people lifting their windshields when inclement winter weather rolls into town. You may consider doing the same to avoid snow and ice buildup and ensure you can easily clear the glass of this debris. However, lifting your windshield wipers can do far more harm than good and should be avoided at all costs.
As snow falls and ice forms, this can make its way into the wiper arm. Over time, this can put tension on the wipers, causing them to break. Additionally, if the wiper accidentally snaps back onto an already damaged windshield, it can lead to even further cracks and severe damage that will necessitate a windshield replacement.
5. Address Small Cracks and Chips
When you’re dealing with minor damage on your windshield, it isn’t uncommon for this damage to go overlooked. You might not think much of small chips or minor cracks on your windshield, and instead put off essential repairs until winter weather comes to an end. However, putting this off can have devastating consequences.
Even the smallest damage can quickly spread when you encounter winter weather. Instead of scheduling for the spring, it is best to reach out to your auto glass technician as soon as possible to make repairs. By scheduling these repairs, you can avoid even more expensive and time-consuming repairs or replacements.
6. Know When to Schedule a Replacement
While many minor cracks and chips can be quickly repaired, this isn’t always the case, and putting off essential replacements can lead to a major headache. If you are on the fence about whether windshield repairs are right for you, it is best to do a quick assessment of the existing damage to determine if replacement is a better choice.
If you’re dealing with chips smaller than one inch in diameter or a crack under six inches long, these issues can often be repaired. However, if you’re dealing with larger damage, it may be best to schedule a windshield replacement instead. This replacement can help you avoid exacerbated damage while driving.
Let Valley Glass Address Winter Weather Windshield Damage
When winter weather damages your windshield, it can leave you feeling frustrated. This damage can make it difficult to see, even when you’re facing snow or rain. If you’re dealing with damage that needs to be addressed as soon as possible, turn to our team at Valley Glass for windshield repairs or replacement.
Our team offers in-shop and mobile windshield repairs to ensure your auto glass is always in the best shape possible. If you’re dealing with more extensive damage and need a replacement, our team also provides quick, reliable glass replacement. No matter what service you need, our team in Northern Utah, Idaho Falls, and Boise is here to provide you with expert support.
Whether you need to schedule auto glass repairs or replacement, contact our team to schedule an appointment.
