How to Keep Your Auto Glass Damage-Free During Winter?

Many of us will start the winter preparation by changing the tires and making sure that their heating is functional. That’s all good and necessary. But you also need to make sure that your auto glass is well maintained and damage-free.

Here are some tips from our experts at Auto Glass Express on how you can protect your auto glass and windshield this winter.

First Defrost, Then Use the Ice Scraper

If you’re in a hurry, the quickest way to remove the buildup ice from your windshield and auto glass is by using an ice scraper. However, if the buildup is too big, using just the ice scraper might not be the best idea.

Ice scrapers are generally recommended if the ice isn’t too thick and you don’t need to use considerable force to remove it. If you do apply too much pressure, the ice scraper might actually damage the windshield and auto glass and you’ll need to repair it. So before you start scraping, make sure that you turn on the defrost function of your heating. This will significantly weaken the ice and you will be able to remove it easily.

Defrosting Auto Glass Is Good, but Do It Gradually

We covered this numerous times. Extreme temperature changes (hot to cold and vice versa) can cause your windshield to expand/contract rapidly. This rapid expansion/contraction can result in damage.

The outer layer (where the ice is for example) will remain cold and contracted, while the inner layer (which is blasted by warm air from the heating) will expand. These temperature differences can cause problems. Maybe not always and for everyone, but are you going to risk it?

If you’re keen on using the defrost function on your vehicle, make sure that you do it gradually. Start with a lower temperature and work your way up. This could take about 15-20 minutes if you do it properly.

Responsible Driving

Some drivers will take the time to thoroughly and properly clean their windshield so they could have a good view out on the road. But not all drivers are as responsible. Others might just remove enough of the ice so they can see the road and that is it. They don’t remove the snow that has piled up on top of their cars before they head out.

This type of habit can be pretty dangerous for other drivers. The snow on top of your car can quickly become airborne when you speed up and someone is tailgating you, that airborne snow can blindside them. This is a recipe for potential car accident.

Now, it’s highly unlikely that airborne snow will damage your windshield. However, chunks of ice that slide off another car will for sure damage your windshield if they collide with it. This damage might be repaired or it can be so extensive that you will have to do a replacement.

In order to avoid either of these scenarios, we highly recommend that you keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. Abide by the 3-second rule at least, although we highly recommend that you extend that to 5 seconds. And of course, make sure that you thoroughly clean your vehicle (windshield and the excess snow) so that you don’t cause any damage to other vehicles.

Hopefully, these tips will help you maintain your windshield and auto glass in good shape and keep you safe on the road during this winter. If you need auto glass repair or replacement, contact our experts at Auto Glass Express and schedule an appointment or you can request a quote on our site.