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Just like everything else, your car requires some extra TLC during the cold, harsh winter months. The sleet, snow and the freezing temperatures can cause chips, cracks and other types of damage to your windshield when you drive or even when you’re vehicle is parked.   Another common winter problem is finding frost and ice on your windshield when you’re getting late for work in the morning. In their hurry, people often use quick defrosting techniques which end up damaging their windshields. Over the course of this blog, we’ll provide some basic dos and don’ts of taking care of your windshield during harsh winter months.

Don’t Use Excessive Force While Scraping Ice from Your Windshield

Some people are either too impatient or simply don’t have time to wait for the defroster to its job in the morning. So they end up aggressively attacking their windshield with an ice scraper. Using excessive force while scraping, is likely to result in chips on your windshield. Moreover, some people believe that the quickest way to get rid of the ice formed on windshield is by beating and pounding on it. The idea is to break the ice into smaller pieces before scraping it off. While pounding has little effect on the ice, it’ll probably damage or loosen your windshield.

 

Never Use Hot Water to Defrost Your Windshield

For other people, pouring boiling water on a frozen windshield is the quickest way to get rid of the ice. This is perhaps the worst thing you can do to your windshield. When boiling water comes in contact with freezing cold glass, the abrupt shift in temperature can cause the glass to expand too quickly. This can lead to the glass cracking or even shattering, leaving you with no choice other than getting your windshield repaired or replaced.

Let the Defroster Do its Job

Although you might feel that there isn’t enough time in the morning to wait for your defroster to work, using the techniques mentioned above will probably lead to a damaged windshield. The best thing to do is to set your alarm for 10 minutes earlier so you can give your car the time it needs. The defroster is designed to melt and loosen the ice so it can be easily scraped away. Have a cracked or chipped windshield? Get in touch with us at Auto Glass in San Antonio. From minor repairs to full replacements, we provide all kinds of auto glass services. Contact us to schedule an appointment today.