The Accidental Ways You Might Damage Your Car's Glass

websitebuilder • October 29, 2021

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How does auto glass damage happen? Rocks and road debris are the obvious culprits behind chips and cracks. But these aren't the only ways to damage your windshield, back window, or side panes. Take a look at the not-so-obvious causes and accidental issues that can result in the need for an auto glass replacement or repair service.

Did You Park Under a Tree?

Auto glass damage doesn't always happen on the road. A tree can provide shade and shelter from the rain or snow. But parking your car in a space that's directly beneath a tree or its branches isn't always safe.

How can a tree damage your car? Even though the tree simply stands over your vehicle, it can still chip, crack, or break your windshield or rear window. A falling tree can do the most damage to your car.

Even though the entire tree could crush your vehicle and smash the windshield or rear window, a branch may also do a significant amount of damage. Age, disease, and storms can cause tree branches to weaken. If the branch falls onto your car, it could go through the windshield or rear window.

Along with branches, sharp twigs, nuts, and other similar parts of a tree can also damage your car - especially when an animal such as a squirrel is involved. If a squirrel accidentally drops their acorn meal onto your window from a higher height, the impact could chip or crack the glass.

Did You Leave the Wipers Up On a Cold Day?

Have you heard that you should leave the windshield wipers up off the glass when the weather is cold and snowy? While this can prevent the wipers from freezing to your car and make clearing snow or ice off your windshield easier, it can also damage your auto's glass.

Even though the windshield wiper blades are rubber, this softer substance can harden with colder temperatures. Like the wiper blades, the cold can also affect your windshield. Instead of getting harder, the glass may become brittle. If the blade accidentally falls onto the windshield or you snap it down, the hard rubber could crack the brittle auto glass.

Did You Leave the Wipers Down On a Cold Day?

To raise or to lower - that is the question. Yes, raising the blades can cause a crack (again, if a hardened wiper blade contacts a brittle windshield with force). But lowering the blades can also result in auto glass problems.

Windshield wiper blades can freeze to the glass on an extremely cold day or night. To remove the built-up ice, some car owners chip away at the blades and the windshield with a scraper or other similar tool. The pressure from the scraper or tool can scratch or crack the glass and damage the windshield.

Did You Forget About the Blades?

Frozen blades aren't the only potential culprit behind wiper-related glass damage. The rubber parts of the blades provide a cushion. Even though the blade can move water or loose snow off the glass, the cushion prevents the wipers from damaging your windshield. Failure to replace worn blades can leave your wipers without this cushion. The unprotected wipers can easily scratch and damage your car's glass.

Did You Try to Remove a Sticker?

Window stickers are used as parking permits or car decor. Many of these stickers easily peel off of auto glass. However, instead of a sticky adhesive, some are made from a material that clings to the surface. But if you put adhesive-based stickers on the windshield, the rear window, or the side door windows, these decals could damage the glass.

Some types of stickers can leave behind a messy adhesive mark. Failure to remove the mark is damage on its own. If this mark bothers you, you plan to sell the car, or it gets in the way of your view, you might need to replace the glass.

While some car owners are able to clean the adhesive mark or the full sticker, some removal techniques can add to the damage. A new, clean, and thin razor blade can help you to peel off the adhesive. But if used incorrectly, a razor can scratch the surface of the windshield or window. The marks this strategy leaves behind may also require a professional repair or replacement.

Did You Forget to Clean Your Windshield?

A dirty windshield can cause a few different types of problems. You have the obvious aesthetic issues behind a grime-covered car. Along with the way your vehicle looks, a dirty windshield can also obstruct your view. This can increase the risk of an auto accident.

How do looks and view relate to windshield damage? These issues don't directly connect to auto glass scratches or cracks. But the dirt on your windshield does. Thick, heavy, or textured debris can etch the glass when you use the windshield wipers. This can leave behind permanent marks that require professional attention.

 Do you need to replace your car's windshield? Contact MS Glass Outlet for more information.

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