It's hard to think about windshields at this time of year. We're all thinking about holidays and summer weather, not something as harsh as Canadian winters. However, there are some important steps you should take in order to prepare your windshield for the winter conditions.
Calgary is known to have brutal winters. The cold is harsh for us, and it's equally as challenging on our cars too! As we all know, when the snow flies this time of year, there are some precautions that we need to take to keep our vehicles safe during these hazardous road conditions, such as swapping out our tires and ensuring our battery is in working condition. But there are other preparations people often overlook, and we're here to tell you what they are.
The windshield provides important visibility when driving in hazardous conditions. It is one of your most essential safety features, so preparing it for winter is paramount before heading out into the cold!
The first thing you may notice with your windshield is that it has become cracked or iced up over time. Both of which are not safe - at all! Cracks in windshields can decrease visibility, especially when driving on the highway. Large cracks on windshields will also damage the integrity and the safety of the windshield in the event of a collision or, worse - a rollover.
At Easy Auto Glass, we can help you by repairing or replacing your windshield, to ensure your vehicle's safety. Check out our services and request a quote today!
Check Your Windshield Wipers
Before extreme conditions, or even before the first snowfall- double check your wipers to make sure they are in good condition. Your wiper blades shouldn't be dry and cracking with rubber peeling off of them or have small chunks missing from the rubber; there should not be streaks left behind either (if you use your wipers to try and clear hard ice on your windshield instead of scraping or clearing the ice by hand, damage to the rubber on the wipers can become damaged).
Recognizing these issues beforehand can help protect against costly repairs later down the road! Windshield wiper blades are o of the least expensive, cost-effective maintenance items you can do for your vehicle and windshield.
Prepare Your Defroster
Windshield defrosters help to remove moisture from windshields as quickly as possible. This allows your windshield wipers to wipe clean with ease and enables you to see clearly when driving in winter conditions. However, it's important to prepare your defroster before heading out into winter weather conditions; with heavy frost or ice buildup on windshields, this can be very tricky! Windshields make great shields against the wind and rain, but their inner surfaces can easily accumulate frost and even tiny bits of embedded ice. Using the defroster to warm up your vehicle's interior and melt the ice is the safest way to get ice off your windshield.
Be careful, though; even though warming up your car is the first thing you want to do during winter, throwing the defrost on high first thing may cause unrepaired rock chips to expand and create a crack.
Make Sure You Have a Sturdy Scraper In Your Car
Having a windshield scraper in your car during winter is also very important, so you always have an option for removing any obstacles from your windshield. Windshield wipers are great but won't always be effective depending on how long the ice was there or how thick it is.
Plastic windshield scrapers are preferred over metal ones, but you still need to be careful not to scratch the glass. Use gentle motions when scraping windshields to avoid causing deep scratches.
Use De-Icer Washer Fluid
It is essential to keep windshield de-icer washer fluid in your car during the winter. Look for a temperature-appropriate windshield washer fluid -40C. Regular washer fluid is mainly composed of water, and when the temperature drops too low, it'll freeze. Therefore the de-icer windshield washer fluid is a good idea. The de-icer fluid has an additive that helps prevent freezing to your window! This is very helpful if any ice does accumulate on your windshield and will help remove it quickly and easily without damaging the windshield! Luckily we live in a cold climate area, so you can easily find this fluid anywhere. Easy Auto Glass keeps some in stock, pop by, and with the purchase of a jug, we will fill it up for you.
Frost & Condensation
Are you noticing frost or condensation on the INSIDE of your windshield?
Today, many vehicles have "cabin filtration filters" that can get clogged with debris, leaves, etc. It is best to take it out and clean it (information can be found in the owner's manual or on YouTube) or change it yearly like you would an air filter for the engine. It helps the air system function properly. Still too much condensation? Take out the floor mats and check for excessive moisture. Let the vehicle dry out!
Try not to use the "recirculate" mode in the winter as it won't let fresh air in through the ventilation system, or at least crack a window and let the air circulate. We've all noticed someone on the roads that can hardly see out their windows, so opening a side window just a little bit will let the vehicle breathe.
When winter comes around, preparation is key, and we don't want our windshields to get damaged, especially during the cold months. This means we don't want them cracking and having issues like scratches or rock chips.
Remember, windshields are one of our vehicles' most important safety features. Windshield repairs can help with windshield damage during winter. Windshield repair is the answer if you have windshield damage due to winter. Get windshield repairs done before another freeze-thaw cycle occurs for optimal safety while driving on the road!
At Easy Auto Glass, our technicians are highly skilled and experienced in repairing and replacing your windshield. If you suspect any kind of damage, call us and book an appointment as soon as possible. You don't want your rock chips to become an even more expensive repair job. If you are in need of a replacement, we include a FREE rock chip repair program. For as long as you own the vehicle and we've replaced your windshield, we'll repair your rock chips for free!