Glass is hard stuff, especially auto glass—harder than the
steel parts of windshield wiper frames—but these parts can scratch your windshield over time, if your blades are too worn.
Most of us change wiper blades before this point because we notice they’re not
cleaning the windshield properly, but sometimes a damaged blade can allow the frame
to score the glass before you catch the problem and deal with it. In this
article, we’ll show you what to watch for and how to recognize the signs of an
abrasive wiper.
When the metal parts of a wiper make contact with the glass,
they begin digging microscopic grooves right away; you just can’t see them yet.
The longer the wipers run in this condition, the more defined the streaks
become. If you catch the problem early, the damage may be minor enough that it
can be polished out, without requiring a windshield replacement.
It’s time to replace
the blades
Obviously, the most important step is to replace the blades.
After that, make a note on your calendar to replace them every six months. You
may save yourself from a scored windshield, and you’ll certainly have better driving
visibility in the rain.
Signs that your windshield
may be scratched
Here are some early warning signs of a wiper-damaged
windshield:
·
Headlights and sunlight look hazy, inhibiting
visibility through the windshield.
·
Even new blades fail to fully wipe away water
due to microscopic droplets resting in the grooves.
·
New blades wear out quickly from the roughness
of the windshield.
More reasons to
replace your wiper blades
In proper condition, wiper blades do an excellent job of clearing
water from the windshield, but as the edges wear, their effectiveness is
greatly reduced. It’s especially noticeable when driving at night when water
streaks make oncoming headlights more glaring and reduce your ability to
cognitively process road signs, traffic and road conditions.
If you have a damaged windshield in the Wichita, Kansas,
area, The Glassman can come to your home
or office to repair it, and an average repair runs around $75—well worth it to
drive safely in the rain. In some cases, we may have to replace a windshield,
but if you catch the problem early, we can probably buff it out without
distorting the optical qualities of the glass. Give us a call at (316) 978-0027
if you need advice on auto glass replacement or repair.
No comments:
Post a Comment