« Windshield Repair instead of a Replacement: What, When and Why | Home | Windshield Replacements Not Regulated by Auto Glass Associations »

Automotive Glass Protection: Windshield Replacement and Repair

By gguild | June 11, 2008

Automotive glass must protect passengers.

Automotive glass, with just a little care and caution, can keep doing the job it’s designed for.

This Automotive Glass Chip’s For You.

Most of us have had this experience with automotive glass. We’re driving along and all of a sudden a piece of gravel gets kicked up by the vehicle in front of us, and SMACK, the automotive glass is chipped or worse, the windshield gets cracked. Sometimes, chips just happen. But, there’s a reason for the sign on the back of dump trucks that says: “Stay Back 200 Feet”. Use common sense to avoid automotive glass chips as much as possible.

Some Automotive Glass Chips grow up to be Cracks!

Has this happened to you? True story. Several years ago I got a chip in my windshield. I drove around with this little chip for a few months. A few times I thought: “I really ought to get this chip repaired. Maybe tomorrow.” One day it (the chip) decided to turn into a crack that went halfway across my windshield. I don’t know why; it just did! What could have been fixed with a simple automotive glass repair now required a full automotive glass replacement. Lesson learned: take care of the chip NOW, before it grows worse. Don’t think: “Oh, it won’t happen to me”, because, it does!

“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” vs. “Hot Hot Hot”

When it comes to automotive glass (especially windshields) the two song titles above (or temperatures), should NOT be mixed. Let me clear this up.

  1. Don’t throw hot or warm water on an automotive windshield to melt the ice.
  2. When washing your vehicle in the hot sun, don’t spray the windshield with really cold water. The extreme difference in temperatures can cause your windshield to crack!

Keep it Clean!

Your windshield keeps dirt and bugs out of your eyes. Unfortunately, this all accumulates on your windshield. Keeping your automotive glass clean is a responsibility that goes along with driving. Help your windshield do its job. Keep it clean. This will help you see better when you’re driving.

If your windshield wipers aren’t doing their job, replace them. They should be replaced every year anyway so they are not dried out, cracked, etc. Have your automotive dealership replace them with those designed to fit your vehicle. Or, if you are reasonably handy, you can do it yourself and replace your windshield. Choose quality replacements designed for your vehicle. A few bucks is a small investment in your family’s safety and the life of your automotive glass windshield.

Whether it’s time to repair or replace your automotive glass; go to a qualified auto glass shop for your automotive glass repair.

Take good care of your vehicle. When repairing or replacing your windshield, it is always best to go to an auto glass shop that has trained, certified and experienced staff. Plus, they’ll use OEM replacement automotive glass to keep your vehicle like new.

Don’t ignore your automotive glass.

Change the oil. Have regular maintenance. Check the tires. You know the routine. And like everything else on your vehicle, take good care of your automotive glass. Or it could end up costing you extra time, money, higher insurance rates, or worse, your family’s safety.

Comments are closed.