Are You The Source Of Your Car's Auto Glass Damage?

With auto glass repair becoming more common than a replacement for minor damage, many car owners don't stress much about small chips or similar damage to their car's glass. However, while rocks and other hazards are typically unavoidable on the road, there are some things that you may be doing that actually increase your chances of needing auto glass repair. Understanding these common mistakes will let you know whether you need to have your car's windows inspected by an auto glass professional, and what changes you need to make to avoid causing further damage.

How Do You Remove Ice From Your Windows?

If you live in an area that's prone to snow and ice in the winter months, you may be inadvertently damaging your car's windows when you remove ice from the glass. Many people take the ice scraper and hit stubborn sections of ice to try to break it up. When you do this, you may actually be causing subtle impact damage to your car's window glass.

Instead of using brute force to break up ice on your windshield, you should use your car's defroster, cabin heat, or even a de-icer chemical treatment on the glass. These will loosen and break up ice quickly and easily without risking damage to the glass that could make it prone to shatter later.

If you're not sure whether you've damaged your car's glass, take it to an auto glass repair technician for a thorough examination. If your windows have any visible weak points or signs of damage, they can recommend the best repair approach.

Do You Change Your Windshield Wipers?

One of the most common causes of windshield glass damage (and rear window damage, for that matter) is from wiper blades. Your car's wiper blades should be replaced once or twice a year. If you have neglected your car's wiper blades, you may actually have scratches on the surface of your car's glass from the metal components beneath the rubber wiper blade. 

As the blade wears, the metal is eventually exposed. When you continue using your wipers this way, even if you can't hear them scratching on the glass, you'll have shallow scratches forming on your windshield. You'll need to have a windshield repair technician inspect the glass for signs of damage and address it for you.

Do You Keep Your Windows Clean?

If you're one of those people who only clean the car windows when you absolutely can't see out of them, you're doing your auto glass a serious disservice. When you leave dirt and debris to accumulate on your car's windows for any period of time, that dirt becomes abrasive to the glass surface. This creates surface scratches that can, over time, create a hazy surface on your windows.

You'll need to talk with an auto glass repair technician about repairing the existing scratches, then follow their recommendations for proper cleaning intervals to avoid this problem in the future. Contact an auto glass repair service for more information.