The Effect of Hot & Cold Temperatures on Your Windshield

Unfortunately, both hot and cold weather can put a lot of stress on your windshield, even causing it to eventually crack. These cracks spread more quickly with extreme temperatures, causing further damage to auto glass. You can’t control the weather, but there are some steps you can take to avoid windshield damage in both the winter and the summer.

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Cold Weather
In winter months, cars take a beating from cold temperatures, snow, ice, and hail. Winter in Spartanburg is relatively mild, but even here there can be many freezing, snowy days. No matter where you live, it is important to be mindful of your car’s windshield in the winter. It isn’t so much the subzero temperatures, but rapid temperature change, that causes the most damage to your windshield. Be careful when heating up your car in cold temperatures. If your frozen windshield is blasted with hot air, the sudden change in temperature can cause it to crack. Similarly, you can severely damage your windshield by pouring hot water on a windshield covered with ice.

If your windshield is covered in ice, use proper tools to remove the ice. Never use a knife or a shovel, use ice scrapers designed for ice removal. It is a good idea to always keep one in your car. Be sure to scrape horizontally across the glass of your windshield. Vertical stabbing or chopping motions can chip the glass under the ice.

Washer fluid is used more often in the winter months, so make sure you always have your car stocked with washer fluid. A clean windshield is easier to see out of, especially when visibility is already bad due to the weather. Additionally, make sure your wiper blades are working properly to brush away snow and ice. You can even install wipers that are specifically designed for winter weather for optimal performance.

If your windshield does become cracked or chipped, make sure to address the problem immediately. In cold weather, chips and cracks will only get more serious. Cold temperatures and temperature fluctuations almost always result in chips turning into cracks, and cracks becoming bigger and bigger cracks. Luckily, there is a great windshield repair Spartanburg SC service that can get you back on the road in no time. 24/7 mobile service can meet you at your location, saving you from having to drive with a broken windshield.

Hot Weather
Like cold temperatures in winter, high temperatures in the summer can negatively affect your windshield. This is especially true when your hot car cools down too quickly. The glass expands and contracts when the temperature changes, making it more stressed and fragile. Furthermore, people travel and use their cars more in the summer time, leading to a higher incidence of broken windshields.

Nobody likes being in a hot car, and there is a natural desire to put the air conditioning on full blast to cool it down to a comfortable temperature. However, rapidly cooling your car’s interior can be very stressful on auto glass. It is recommended that you cool your car slowly, putting the AC on low to start. It is also a good idea to angle the vents downward, away from the windshield, or using the floor setting to start. Just like when you warm up glass too quickly, rapidly cooling it can also cause it to crack. Gradually changing the temperature of your vehicle’s cabin can make a huge difference, and extend the life of your windshield.

More summertime travel means more cars on the road, leading to more broken windshields and auto glass. The more you are driving, the higher chance of a chipped or broken windshield due to an accident or debris hitting the glass. Even a small chip should be repaired as soon as possible, as it will quickly spread, especially with temperature fluctuations. Addressing the problem quickly could mean the difference between an easy repair and a full windshield replacement.