4 Ways to Prevent Windshield Cracks & Chips

If you suffer from frequent windshield cracks and chips, then read on to learn about four ways you can help prevent windshield damage by changing your driving and auto care habits.

Drive on side roads instead of busy highways whenever possible to decrease the chance of your windshield becoming damaged while driving.

Many aspects of highway driving increase the chance of windshield damage, including: 

• Traveling at higher speeds. When debris comes flying at your windshield, it is more likely to cause damage if you are traveling in the opposite direction at a high speed. 
• More traffic. The greater the number of automobiles traveling on the roadway, the more opportunities there are for a driver to send road debris flying into your windshield. 
• Greater truck presence. When trucks are carrying large loads of small items, such as gravel and building supplies, small pieces of debris can fly off the truck and hit your windshield. 

If you must drive on highways on a regular basis, then keep plenty of distance between your car and other cars on the road, especially large trucks. Keeping this extra distance will lessen the chance that debris other cars send flying into the air will hit your windshield. 

Another way to prevent windshield cracks is to protect your windshield from extreme temperature fluctuations.

When your windshield experiences a rapid change in temperature, the windshield glass and its metal frame can expand and contract. This expansion and contraction can place stress on the window glass that causes a windshield pressure crack. 

The temperature of your windshield and frame can rise rapidly when you activate the automatic windshield defroster in the winter in an attempt to unthaw an ice-covered windshield. For this reason, automobile glass experts recommend spraying your ice-covered windshield with a homemade deicing solution of two parts rubbing alcohol and one part water in the winter instead of using your windshield defroster. 

On the contrary, your windshield temperature can drop dramatically during the summer when you enter your hot car and immediately crank up the air conditioner to its highest setting. To avoid cracks that could occur due to this rapid drop in glass temperature, turn your air conditioner on its lowest setting and aim all air-conditioning vents away from your windshield when first entering your vehicle on hot days. After your windshield cools slightly, you can then 

adjust your air conditioner to a higher setting. 

In addition, when a vehicle is parked in direct sunlight, especially during the hot summer, the metal windshield frame can heat up quickly and dramatically. The frame can then pass this heat to windshield glass edges, causing them to crack due to thermal stress. 

Always park in the shade during the summer and, when possible, leave your windows cracked to discourage heat build-up inside of your car that can heat up your windshield and frame even further. An automobile's interior can reach 225 degrees F or higher when parked in the sun on a warm summer day.  

There are many steps you can take to prevent the windshield damage that large, dense hailstones can cause upon impact. 

First, keep an eye on the local weather forecast and park your car in the garage, if possible, when you know a hailstorm will be arriving soon. If you do not have a garage, then consider investing in a carport you can park your car underneath when bad weather is expected. 

If neither a garage or carport is available, then park as close to your house as possible when a hailstorm is approaching. Your house will likely block some of the hail that blows toward your vehicle to lessen the chance of windshield crack or chip development. 

If a sudden, unpredicted hailstorm occurs while you are driving, then park your car in a safe location, such as a parking lot, and place a hail cover or your vehicle floor mats over your windshield until the storm passes. These devices can absorb much of the impact of the hail hitting your windshield to prevent damage. 

A windshield can crack much more easily when it is improperly installed. Many mistakes made during the windshield installation process — such as improper cleaning of the existing windshield frame before adhesive is applied, the use of the wrong windshield adhesive, or not curing the urethane adhesive properly — can lead to a windshield that is not attached to the vehicle as securely as it should be.

A windshield that is not securely in place can vibrate slightly when you are driving on bumpy or uneven roads, and this vibration can cause the glass to crack. To prevent future windshield cracks due to improper windshield installation, always have an experienced professional replace your windshield when necessary. 

Follow these three tips to prevent frequent windshield cracks and chips. Contact the experienced auto glass experts at MS Glass Outlet for all of your auto glass repair and replacement needs today.