How To Prepare Your Windscreen For Winter

At Tough Car Glass, we know more than most about the importance of keeping your windscreen in tip-top condition. Especially during the winter months, as the cold and wet conditions can cause a whole heap of problems. If you do have any leaks in your windscreen, the freezing temperature can cause water that has got in to expand. This could result in a crack or you needing a new windscreen. The glass is more likely to crack or chip in cold weather with all the frost, ice, rain and wind, and not to mention the road grit flying around.

We have designed this blog to give you some top tips on how to keep your windscreen in great shape through the winter months.

Windscreen Cleaning and Maintenance Tips

Spray, salt, dirt, low winter sun and dazzle from wet roads can all reduce your visibility and make driving harder and more dangerous. But you can do a few simple things to make sure you can cope with even extreme conditions, and have a less stressful time in your car this winter.

Our tips for a clean, well-maintained windscreen in the winter months:

• Use a high-quality, winter-ready screenwash to guarantee excellent cold-weather performance. Screenwash melts ice down to -10°C and guarantees excellent visibility, so you can drive with confidence.

• If your windscreen suffers damage such as a small crack or chip, make sure you get it repaired straight away or it could get worse in cold weather. If you have any questions about this contact us for more information.

• Lift up the wiper blades each evening to stop them from freezing on to the glass, which can cause damage.

• Clean the inside of the windscreen regularly to remove dirt, haze and ‘film’. Condensation will gradually cause a film to build-up on the inside of the glass, reducing your visibility and causing dangerous sun dazzle.

• Clean your car regularly. You might not feel like going out with a bucket and sponge, and it may feel pointless if wet weather is forecast, but a clean car means better all-round visibility and will also help protect the paintwork.

When Did You Last Check Your Windscreen Wipers?

There is a good chance that your windscreen wipers have been overlooked. During the winter months, they will be used more than any other time of year. With the combination of those frosty mornings and all the grit on the road, they will be vital to ensure safe travel. The rubber on wiper blades wears faster in the winter, so you’ll need to check them regularly.

Here is a list of what to look out for, if you see these you should replace them:

• Squeaking, rubbing or jumping when the wipers are switched on

• Streaks of water not being cleared from the windscreen

• Rubber ‘blade’ coming loose from the metal wiper arm

• Rubber wear marks on the glass, or in a worst-case scenario, light scratches on the glass from the arm of the wiper itself

• Tears or bits missing from the rubber blade

Keeping your wipers in good condition is so important, for your own safety and other road users and pedestrians. If you are stopped by the police and your windscreen wipers are causing you to drive dangerously or unsafely, you could be looking at a £1,000 fine. Keep that in mind and make sure you chem them before you head out next time.

If you are uncertain about what type of wipers you need for your car, we always recommend checking your vehicle’s handbook, as this will tell you the size and spec to go for. Many online car parts retailers now offer a registration checker, which lets you find parts by reg number. Always double-check the handbook before ordering new wipers, though, as you can’t always trust online sellers to suggest the right kind of replacements. Another thing to note about buying wipers is to go for quality over price, as spending a little more will mean you don’t have to replace them as often, and they’ll work much better too.

How to De-Ice a Windscreen Safely

Sometimes there is nothing worse than coming out to your car in the morning and your windscreen is full of frost. This means cold hands and added time on to your daily commute. Follow the helpful tips below when de-icing your windscreen next.

Our top tips on how to de-ice a windscreen safely:

• Never use hot water to de-ice your car’s windscreen! Some people still do this unaware of the damage that it can cause.

• Buy a cover for your windscreen, or even some cardboard placed over the night before can help.

• Score thick ice with a scraper before applying de-icer; this allows the product to penetrate the ice, making it easier to scrape off.

• Only use a purpose-built plastic ice scraper – using things like keys and credit cards will make it more likely that you’ll scratch the glass.

Another top tip is to use a good quality de-icer. De-Icer melts ice down to -40°C and works really quickly, for extreme weather conditions. It prevents dangerous refreezing too, so you can get in the car and on the road quickly without worrying. Always keep a spare can handy as you never know when you may need it.

Tough Car Glass

We hope that you found these tips useful. If you have any concerns about the condition of your windscreen, contact us today. With over 20 years of experience, there is nothing we have not seen or done in the car glass trade. For the past 11 years, we have been qualified as ATA Master technicians. Our team goes above and beyond to cater to all your specific needs and ensure that our windscreen/window replacements are some of the best around.

For more information about our windscreen/window replacements or to enquire about any of our services then give us a call on 07716596649.