Summer can be an extremely challenging season for car owners and their “iron horses” especially on windshields. Not only you and your vehicle are about to take the test of long family road trips and bumpy paths to beloved campsites, but the extreme heat, temperature swings, and UV rays will become the harsh reality for your car for a while.
All those factors are notorious for their effect on the vehicle and particularly on such parts as the windshield, back window, mirrors, etc.
In this article, we shall talk about 5 ways to prepare your windshield for the summer season and what you can do to prevent damage and costly repairs in the future.
Keep the windshield clean and do it right.
Keeping your auto glass clean at all times is one of the golden maintenance rules for all car owners. However, it is particularly important to clean your windshield regularly in the summer and do it properly.
One of the main things you should remember is that heat and UV rays may cause different contaminants and chemical particles that stick to your dirty windshield to react and damage the glass.
However, keep in mind that you should never wash the windshield directly under the scorching summer sun. Pouring cool water into a hot glass will cause a temperature swing, which is dangerous for the integrity of the glass.
Invest in a windshield shade
A reflective windshield shade is simple yet extremely efficient to prevent your windshield from overheating and therefore damage. Such shade, installed directly under the windshield every time you park the vehicle in an open space, will reflect the direct sunlight keeping the auto glass and all the interior of your car from overheating, UV, and heat damage during the summer.
Locate covered parking lots
It is particularly important to park your vehicle in the shade or preferably in closed parking lots during the summer, preventing direct sunlight and the damage it brings.
If you have been leaving your car in the driveway, using the garage for storage or any other purpose over the past few months, it is time for a spring clean as in the summer garage should perform its initial function – protect your car. The same is true for your workplace and everywhere else. Work out the habit of finding covered parking places and you will do a really big favor for your auto glass.
Inspect the windshield.
Driving the same vehicle every day we may not miss small chips and cracks that may appear here and there and then grow gradually turning into a really big, ugly, and potentially dangerous issue.
That is why it is so important to clean and inspect the windshield and other auto glass regularly and carefully. However, this simple maintenance rule may be vital before and during the hot Summer season.
Any tiny ding will develop into a serious crack much faster due to heat and temperature swings which are almost inevitable in the future. The fact that you are most likely go on a road trip, and travel off-road in the summer only “adds fuel” to this scenario.
That is why it is essential to inspect the auto glass thoroughly when you prepare the car for the change of seasons and keep an eye on it all summer long.
Do all the necessary windshield repairs on time!
As soon as you spot a crack, chip, or any other sign of damage on the auto glass and especially the windshield, it is essential to address professional repair services right away, no matter how small and innocent it may look to you at the moment.
First of all, we have already explained that nothing contributes to the worsening of any damage to the glass more than summer heat and UV light. Also, the damage may be more serious than you assume, and therefore professional expertise will save you more money and effort than an attempt to fix it using one of those DIY kits or wisdom of the Internet.
Make sure to address a trustworthy auto glass shop. Here, at Auto Glass Depot we have a team of trained professionals with thorough expertise in various glass repairs. Should you use a replacement, we provide OEM parts at the most reasonable prices in the area.
Contact Auto Glass Depot for more tips on windshield maintenance during the hot summer season and all year round. Should you need to repair or replace your windshield, visit our shop or enjoy our 24/7 mobile service available across the Greater Toronto & Hamilton Area.