How Hot And Cold Temperatures Affect Your Windshield

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How Hot And Cold Temperatures Affect Your Windshield

23 October 2018
 Categories: , Blog


From oil changes and tire rotations to paying for insurance and gas, the overwhelming nature of maintaining your vehicle should be easy to see. Of course, one surprising element of your vehicle you may not be focusing enough on is the windshield.

Your vehicle's windshield provides a barrier between the vehicle's interior and the outside world, so it is an important part that deserves proper understanding and maintenance. Extreme temperatures, whether hot during the summer or cold during the winter, may seem to be insignificant, but they can end up being big problems for your glass. Here are a few effects hot and cold temperatures can have on your windshield.

Hot Temperatures

When temperatures increase outdoors during the spring and summer seasons, the temperature will increase in the inside of your vehicle, too. This increase in temperatures causes the glass of your windshield to expand and contract.

This makes the glass more fragile, increasing the risk of cracks and fissures. If anything does contact your windshield, such as a pebble, rock, or hail, the windshield will most likely crack and even shatter.

If you are like most people, you will amp up the air conditioning as soon as you enter your hot vehicle. The attempt at rapidly cooling your vehicle can be stressful to your window and windshield glass. This rapid cooling can cause the glass to crack even without any impact.

Once you enter the vehicle, you can turn the AC on. However, avoid running it at full blast. Start cooling your vehicle slowly to protect the glass from expansion and potential damage.

The spring and summer seasons are also known for severe weather. If you drive through or park your vehicle outdoors during a thunderstorm, there will be a risk of hail damage or damage from fallen trees and limbs. Pull over under a bridge or safe, covered area if it begins to hail. And, consider parking your vehicle in a garage or under a carport when possible.

Finally, the warmer temperatures may mean you are driving more whether for quick road trips or summer vacations. You will not be the only vehicle on the road, since many people think the same way. The more driving you do and the more vehicles are on the road, the more risk of debris damaging your windshield.

Cold Temperatures

When temperatures start dropping outside, your windshield will also be under a good amount of stress. Just like the heat and rapid air conditioning can place too much stress on your windshield, freezing temperatures can also cause the glass to expand and contract, increasing the risk of damage.

If your windshield already has one or more small cracks, the freezing temperatures will cause this small damage to spread, which leads to larger cracks that are likely to shatter the glass completely.

Avoid blasting the heat when you first start your vehicle up in the cold temperatures. Again, any quick change in temperature will stress out the glass. Turn the heat on low and use your defrost feature to melt away wintry precipitation that may be lingering on your glass.

Use ice scrapers to remove ice and snow from the windshield and windows. Move the ice scrapers across the glass horizontally, since the vertical movements can actually chip the glass.

Make sure to have any cracks repaired before any type of extreme temperatures. For example, replace windshields with multiple cracks or seal existing cracks before the intense temperatures of the summer and winter season to avoid further damage.

Even though you may focus on your engine, brakes, and tires mostly, your windshield deserves proper care, too. This guide will help you understand the risks of extreme temperatures to protect the look and function of your vehicle's windshield.

For more information, get in touch with a company such as Lloyd’s of Shelton Auto Glass LLC.