Your windshield is an essential part of your car, providing you with both protection and visibility. The role of the windshield is perhaps never more important than in the winter, as the harsh elements can cause damage that ruins your visibility and damage your windshield, increasing the chances of a collision occurring. Understanding how to properly maintain your windshield in the winter months can help keep you safe in the snowy weather.

Scraping

When scraping your windshield, be sure to use a plastic ice scraper, as plastic will not easily damage the surface of your windshield. However, even though this is the case, you should still take care to not use excessive force, as pre-existing defects can be aggravated even by a plastic scraper. Additionally, you should inspect the edge of your ice scraper, as if it is excessively worn or has become damaged, it can leave small scratches on the surface of your windshield, which can adversely affect your visibility while driving.

Defrosting

Do not apply hot water onto your windshield in order to melt ice or snow, as the rapid temperature change can cause the glass of the windshield to rapidly expand and crack. Instead, if you want to defrost your windshield before scraping, turn on the car and run the defrost setting for a few minutes. This will allow for your windshield to slowly and safely warm up, while at the same time melting some of the ice stuck on the windshield itself, making it easier to remove with an ice scraper.

Lift the Wipers

Every night, be sure to lift the windshield wipers up so that they will not freeze to the glass. Additionally, every morning before putting them back down, wipe them clean. Doing this consistently means that your wipers will not become damaged or deformed, and ensures that they will have a proper seal with the windshield, allowing you to clear your vision efficiently while driving.

Repairs

If you notice any sort of deformities, cracks, pits, or any other small signs of damage, have them looked at and repaired immediately. The temperatures of winter can cause such small traumas to quickly develop into larger cracks, which can be a serious safety issue and can significantly adversely affect your vision. Additionally, repairing small defects in your windshield is much cheaper and quicker than having your entire windshield replaced, which is what you'll have to do if large, compromising cracks do eventually develop.

Contact a local maintenance service, such as G P Automotive, to get further tips.