4 Ways to Prevent Windscreen Chips
Some drivers experience more frequent windscreen chips than others. If your windscreen seems to become damaged frequently, then your driving and automobile storage habits may be contributing to the development of this damage.
If you suffer from frequent windscreen chips, then read on to learn about four ways you can help prevent windshield damage by changing your driving and auto care habits.
1. Avoid Busy Highways When Possible
Drive on side roads instead of busy highways whenever possible to decrease the chance of your windscreen becoming damaged while driving.
Many aspects of highway driving increase the chance of windshield damage, including:
- Traveling at higher speeds. When debris comes flying at your windshield, it is more likely to cause damage if you are traveling in the opposite direction at a high speed.
- More traffic. The greater the number of automobiles traveling on the roadway, the more opportunities there are for a driver to send road debris flying into your windshield.
- Greater truck presence. When trucks are carrying large loads of small items, such as gravel and building supplies, small pieces of debris can fly off the truck and hit your windscreen.
If you must drive on highways on a regular basis, then keep plenty of distance between your car and other cars on the road, especially large trucks. Keeping this extra distance will lessen the chance that debris other cars send flying into the air will hit your windscreen.
2. Prevent Extreme Windshield Temperature Fluctuations
Another way to prevent windscreen cracks is to protect your windscreen from extreme temperature fluctuations.
When your windscreen experiences a rapid change in temperature, the windscreen glass and its metal frame can expand and contract. This expansion and contraction can place stress on the window glass that causes a windscreen pressure crack.
The temperature of your windscreen and frame can rise rapidly when you activate the automatic windscreen defroster in the winter in an attempt to unthaw an ice-covered windscreen. For this reason, automobile glass experts recommend spraying your ice-covered windshield with a homemade de-icing solution of two parts rubbing alcohol and one part water in the winter instead of using your windscreen defroster.
On the contrary, your windscreen temperature can drop dramatically during the summer when you enter your hot car and immediately crank up the air conditioner to its highest setting. To avoid cracks that could occur due to this rapid drop in glass temperature, turn your air conditioner on its lowest setting and aim all air-conditioning vents away from your windshield when first entering your vehicle on hot days. After your windshield cools slightly, you can then
adjust your air conditioner to a higher setting.
In addition, when a vehicle is parked in direct sunlight, especially during the hot summer, the metal windscreen frame can heat up quickly and dramatically. The frame can then pass this heat to windscreen glass edges, causing them to crack due to thermal stress.
Always park in the shade during the summer and, when possible, leave your windows cracked to discourage heat build-up inside of your car that can heat up your windshield and frame even further. An automobile's interior can reach 225 degrees F or higher when parked in the sun on a warm summer day.
3. Protect Your Windscreen from Hail
There are many steps you can take to prevent the windscreen damage that large, dense hailstones can cause upon impact.
First, keep an eye on the local weather forecast and park your car in the garage, if possible, when you know a hailstorm will be arriving soon. If you do not have a garage, then consider investing in a carport you can park your car underneath when bad weather is expected.
If neither a garage or carport is available, then park as close to your house as possible when a hailstorm is approaching. Your house will likely block some of the hail that blows toward your vehicle to lessen the chance of windscreen chip development.
If a sudden, unpredicted hailstorm occurs while you are driving, then park your car in a safe location, such as a parking lot, and place a hail cover or your vehicle floor mats over your windscreen until the storm passes. These devices can absorb much of the impact of the hail hitting your windscreen to prevent damage.
4. Always Have Auto Glass Replaced by an Experienced Professional
A windscreen can crack much more easily when it is improperly installed. Many mistakes made during the windscreen installation process — such as improper cleaning of the existing windscreen frame before adhesive is applied, the use of the wrong windscreen adhesive, or not curing the urethane adhesive properly — can lead to a windshield that is not attached to the vehicle as securely as it should be.
A windscreen that is not securely in place can vibrate slightly when you are driving on bumpy or uneven roads, and this vibration can cause the glass to crack. To prevent future windscreen cracks due to improper windshield installation, always have an experienced professional replace your windscreen when necessary.
Remember the rule of thumb is as follows:
A windscreen / windshield chip less than 3mm (smaller than a matchstick head) does not usually need to be repaired.
A windscreen / windshield chip less than 25mm (smaller than a £2 coin) is repairable.
A windscreen / windshield chip over 25mm is usually non-repairable.
Call Us Today
We offer repairs that are fast and convenient. If your windscreen / windshield has a chip we’re here to help. For a repair that you know will be done right, call Centre Glass today. Call or WhatsApp on 07923 449354 email centreglass@mail.com visit www.centreglass.org