Tips To Avoid Damage To Your Car's Windshield

Since your car is such an important part of your life, it is important for you to keep it in tip-top condition at all times. One of the most vital parts of your car is its windshield. Not only does your car's windshield serve the obvious purpose of keeping the wind and elements out of your car, but it also is a vital part of your car's safety system. When your car's window glass becomes damaged, your view can be compromised and so can your personal safety. For these reasons, you need to protect the windshield from damage and quickly have any damage repaired.

To prevent damage to your vehicle's windshield, follow each of these tips:

Tip: Only Remove Ice in Non-Damaging Ways from Your Windshield

To prevent scratches and cracks in your car's windshield, always remove frost, ice, and snow by:

• using the car's defroster
• using a plastic ice scraper
• using only cold water

Your car's defroster is always the safest way to remove ice and snow from your car. You should never pour warm water on an icy windshield because it will crack the glass. Also, the glass can become scratched if you use anything other than a plastic ice scraper to remove it. In a pinch, you can also use the side of a credit card to remove ice.  

Tip: Leave Space Between Your Car and Others

Many areas of the country use gravel and cinders to provide traction on icy roads. To prevent the rocks from damaging your car's windshield, make sure that you leave plenty of space between your vehicle and others on the road. 

Tip: Put Your Car in the Garage when You Mow Your Lawn

You might be surprised to learn that one of the leading causes of cracked and broken windshields is rocks flung from lawnmower blades. To prevent these unwanted projectiles from accidentally damaging your windshield, move your car into your garage while you mow your lawn. If you do not have a garage, then move your car far enough away that any flying rocks cannot reach any of its glass parts. 

Take Your Car to a Glass Shop for Repairs

Finally, if your car's windshield becomes damaged, then it is important that you take your car to an automotive glass shop as soon as possible. Windshields that are chipped can often be repaired without having to completely replace the entire piece of glass. A glass shop like Martin Glass Co. can contact your auto insurance carrier and give you a quote for the repair or replacement cost.