Winter Can Be Hard On Your Windshield

A chipped or cracked windshield is something that needs to be fixed as soon as possible because a broken windshield compromises the safety features of your car. The windshield helps to tie the frame together and helps it maintain its rigidity to keep you safe in case of an accident. Fixing your windshield in the winter is even more important because the cold can make any problem worse. 

Freeze/Thaw Cycle

One thing that can lead to any defect in the windshield getting worse is the fact that your windshield will get very cold in the winter, just from the cold air and from the snow, ice, and frost that ends up on your windshield. Turning on your defroster is one way to make sure that the windshield gets cleared and stays clear after you have cleaned it off. There is also a problem with doing that. Heating up a cold windshield that has a small crack or chip in it can cause that damage to get worse. You may even be able to see the crack expanding right in front of your eyes. 

Cold Shatter

Another problem that can show up with your windshield in the winter is that extreme cold can cause it to shatter if a rock chip hits it or if anything hits it. This doesn't happen in regular cold temperatures, but it can happen in temperatures that are below zero and have been sub-zero for some time. The cold temperatures can cause the glass to become more brittle and one little thing can cause the windshield or rear window to shatter. One thing that could cause a problem is scraping your window. But scraping your window is a necessity, so you need to make sure that you do it carefully. That means first using the brush on the scraper to brush off any snow or loose ice. Don't hammer at the ice, even with a scraper, even lightly. That could cause a chip or crack in the windshield that can cause it to shatter immediately. Hold your scraper as horizontally to the window as possible so that you don't dig any more debris into the windshield. You can also raise your windshield wipers and cover them before the precipitation starts so that you can use them as soon as possible. 

If your windshield gets damaged, you need to get it repaired as soon as possible. Talk to your insurance company because you may not have to pay a deductible for your windshield replacement. You should also talk to the windshield repair company, since they can generally work with your insurance company so that you can get your windshield repaired as quickly as possible.