In our previous blog, we discussed how sudden changes in temperature can cause a chip to crack and spread further across your windscreen.
If not properly addressed, a small chip can become a big problem, leading to needing to replace the entire windscreen.
Fortunately, knowing how to effectively protect your windscreen can help you avoid all of this in the first place. As cliché as it sounds: prevention is better than cure!
So, our team at O'Brien® AutoGlass has compiled some useful tips to help you take care of your windscreen.
Tips to protect your windscreen
Here are some tips to look after your windscreen, to help spare you the stress, hassle and costs of repair or replacement:
1. Park your car in a garage or covered area.
Keeping your car out of direct sunlight, heavy rain, hail, and even ice is always a smart idea. If there’s no covered space to park your car, you can look for a shaded area that also offers some shelter.
2. Gradually adjust your car’s internal temperature.
Sudden variations in temperature from inside and out can place stress on your windscreen.
So, to avoid a rapid temperature shift, do not put your car’s air conditioning or heater on an extreme setting straight away. This is important, particularly if the air conditioning or heater is pointed directly at the windscreen.
Instead, just gradually increase or decrease the temperature.
3. Avoid slamming car doors.
It’s not just about the noise it makes.
Extreme vibrations and bumps can add to the stress that already exists at the point of a chip in your windscreen, which could result in a crack appearing.
4. Take care of your windscreen wipers.
Don’t take your wipers for granted. They’re there for a good reason!
To ensure your wiper blades continue to keep dust, dirt, water, insects and more off your windscreen, remember to regularly check to see if they are clean and in good condition.
At O'Brien®, to help you get the most out of your windscreen, we’ve put together a comprehensive checklist to help you choose the right wiper blades as well as how to care for them. Check it out here: Enhance Your View with Wiper Blades.
5. Clean your windscreen properly.
When it comes to cleaning your windscreen, don’t leave everything solely to your windscreen wipers – they are not designed to do all the cleaning.
Using a bit of elbow grease, clean cloth and some glass cleaner, on top of regularly removing debris on and around the windscreen and wipers will help keep your windscreen clear and allow your wiper blades to do what they need to do. Read our Expert guide to cleaning your windscreen here – there are some handy tips (for the most seasoned of car cleaners)!
6. Repair chips in the windscreen as soon as possible.
A chip can easily turn into a crack if not fixed immediately, especially if your car is exposed to extreme temperatures as well as bumps and vibrations from the road.
Our skilled technicians at O'Brien® AutoGlass can repair a windscreen chip if:
- it’s smaller than an Australian $1 coin,
- it’s located on the passenger side
- and it’s at least 5cm from the edge of the windscreen.
It takes only 30 minutes to repair a chip in your windscreen, and with car insurance, the chip repair may be free.
To learn more about whether your chip can be repaired, and what’s involved, read here.
Got a chip or a crack in your windscreen?
If you are worried about a chipped or cracked windscreen, it’s time to contact your local O'Brien® experts. Don’t delay!
Our specialist technicians can assist you whether you need a windscreen chip repair or a full windscreen replacement. No matter what make or model your car is, you can always depend on us and drive away knowing that the job has been done right.
For more information about our chip repairs and windscreen replacement services, click here.
If you have any questions, you can also call us on 1800 059 829 or book online.
