When I noticed a few chips in the windows of my home, I didn't worry too much about how it would affect anything. Instead, I mainly focused on how it made my home look, and I secretly cursed the unsightly damage. However, those small chips began to grow until there were large cracks. After having that experience, I decided to dedicate myself to spreading the word about the problems associated damaged glass. Read this blog to find out how damaged glass could affect you and your family members.
Understanding The Dangers of Damaged Glass
3 Tips To Help You Avoid A Disaster While De-Icing Your Windshield
Maëlyne Fleury
Removing snow and ice from your windshield during the winter is always a major pain. It's understandable if you want to get done with it quickly so you can get in your car and get on your way. But it's important that you don't do anything too drastic while trying to move things along. It's possible you could end up cracking your windshield under these conditions if you get too overzealous. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when removing ice from your windshield.
1. Your Ice Scraper Is Not a Hammer
If the ice on your car has developed into a pretty thick coating, it's going to be important to put some muscle into it, but at the same time, you don't want to go crazy. Stick with the basic ice scraping motion, going back and forth. Do not use the ice scraper as a hammer. Trying to bash the ice away is only going to create problems for you. Hit it too hard in the wrong spot, and you could be looking at a serious crack in your windshield.
2. Do Not Use Hot Water
Yes, it's true that hot water can melt ice pretty fast, but hot water and a frozen windshield do not mix. Dump a boiling pot of water onto your windshield, and you could end damaging more than just the ice. The hot liquid will interact with the super-chilled glass, and the ensuing reaction could cause the glass to crack open. If you want to try using a liquid, there a specific de-icing liquid that you can purchase at your local auto shop. Otherwise, just stick with the ice scraper and take your time getting the job done.
3. If You Already Have a Crack, Use Extra Caution
If you already have a chip or crack in your windshield from something hitting your vehicle while you were driving, you'll want to be extra careful. For starters, don't put on the defroster as heat hitting the frozen windshield could have the same effect as that boiling hot water thanks to the area already being weakened. Use extra caution when going back and forth with the ice scraper if the chip or crack is near the edge of the windshield, as this is already the weakest spot, to begin with.
If your windshield has developed a crack either from something hitting your car or due to your overzealous ice removal techniques, reach out to a windshield replacement specialist today. He or she can either replace your windshield entirely or provide a fix for the affected area.
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