Now that Summer is nearing it’s end in Canada, Canadians are starting to worry about winter related stresses and changes. You might be surprised to read that the winter brings new dangers and worries to your car’s’ windshield and other forms of auto glass (such as a sunroof). Here, Speers will provide you with a comprehensive guide and introduction to keeping your windshield safe and out of harm’s way this winter, while also helping you avoid the costs of a windshield replacement.
Remove caked on ice and snow might seem like a simple and straightforward task, but one wrong move could prove to be deadly for your windshield and the structural integrity of your windshield. The stress added on to your windshield because of the low, sometimes freezing temperatures can cause it to be fragile and easy to break.
Watch the Time
The first step to removing ice and snow from your windshield safely is to make sure you rectify the situation as soon as possible. Waiting to remove the ice may cause damage itself, so make sure to remove the ice and snow when you see it. This might cause issues overnight, when it is likely that you will not notice your windshield being frozen over for many hours. We recommend waking up a little earlier during the winter moves to remove the ice and snow promptly. This will help give you time to fix the situation and not be late for work, school, or other commitments.
Removing Ice
Before you enter your car, make sure to check that no ice is covering or obstructing your tailpipe. This is very dangerous, because a blocked tailpipe can cause a buildup of carbon monoxide in your car.
If you see ice buildup on your windshield, you might think that a warm liquid will quickly and easily melt away your issue. This might be true, but the quick change in temperature could prove to be very detrimental to your windshield. First, start you car to allow for some mild heating of the ice. Set the fan to “low” so that the heating process is not to vigorous. Once your car has been heating for 5 minutes minimum, use a plastic ice scraper to remove bits of ice. If your car has properly heated up, removing the ice should not be increasingly difficult.
Prevention is the Best Medicine
There is no denying the unstoppable benefits of having a solid defense. Defense is the best offense! Make sure you take preemptive measures to reduce the risk of ice and snow freezing over your windshield.
If available, make sure to park your car (especially overnight) in a garage or covered area. You can also make use of window covers or large tarps to cover your car, stopping the snow from settling into the windshield and freezing over. If your budget is low, you can make shift a cover for your windshield with paper bags and cardboard. You can secure them down with the wiper blades. Budget is not an excuse for not protecting your windshield against winter damage, as there are cheap and affordable solutions for all budgets!
Contact Speers today if you have any chips, cracks or damages and need a windshield repair!
