3 Tips To Help You Avoid Turning A Minor Windshield Repair Into A Full Blown Replacement

If your windshield has recently suffered minor damage, you should know that this damage can easily spread quickly and without notice. If this happens, you could find yourself needing a full blown windshield replacement rather than just a minor windshield repair. While the most effective way to prevent this from happening is to have your windshield repaired immediately, this may not always be possible. Thankfully the three tips below can help you to reduce the risk of the damage spreading before you are able to have it repaired.

Avoid Dramatic Changes In Temperature

Quick and dramatic temperature changes can cause the damage to your windshield to spread rapidly. Consequently, you will want to avoid the use of hot water to quickly defrost a frozen windshield during the winter months. You will also want to slowly cool down your windshield during the hot summer months by slowly turning up your air conditioning rather than immediately turning it on full blast. Parking your vehicle in a covered area can also assist in preventing dramatic temperature changes.

Reinforce The Glass If Possible

If the damage to your auto glass does not fall directly in your sight line while driving, reinforcing the glass can help to prevent the damage from spreading until you are able to get it repaired. This can be done by placing two pieces of transparent tape over the damaged area in an "x" pattern on both the inside and outside of your windshield. Be sure to choose tape that is completely transparent so that it does not interfere in any way with your ability to see while driving.

Avoid Putting Extra Pressure On Your Auto Glass

The more pressure that is put on your auto glass, the more likely the damage is to spread since the integrity of your glass is already compromised. In order to reduce the amount of pressure that is put on your windshield, you will want to avoid driving at high speeds or in bad weather. You will also want to avoid the use of automatic car washes that utilize high pressure water sources to quickly clean your vehicle. If you absolutely must wash your car before the auto glass can be repaired, you will want to stick to the old-fashioned method of washing it by hand.

A Final Thought

While the tips described above can often prove effective at preventing the damage to your windshield from spreading, they do not guarantee that this damage will not spread. Furthermore, it is important to remember that these tips are only intended to help you through the short term and are not a permanent solution to your auto glass damage. Consequently, you will want to ensure that you bring your vehicle in for a windshield repair as quickly as possible.