Category: TopTips

26/2/2019 0 Comments

Wipers - When Should You Replace Them?

Wiper blades are quite possible one of the most easiest things to overlook on your vehicle, despite being a very crucial safety feature as it allows you to quite simply see the road ahead in unfavourable conditions. The importance with regards to the appearance, functionality and ultimately safety of your car should not be underestimated.

Yet so many do leave it to long to replace the wiper blades, how long is too long?
Of all the parts of a car which are subject to wear and tear, windscreen wipers are perhaps the most fragile. Manufactured from thin rubber, they are designed to operate smoothly on the windscreen without damaging the surface of the glass, yet despite their fragility they are often required on a daily basis, possibly for long periods of time, during wet weather. In winter they become frozen to the glass and in summer they are used to help to clean the windscreen, while being subjected to high temperatures.
It is hardly surprising, therefore, that windscreen wipers do not last indefinitely and require regular replacement.
There is no set time frame as harsh weather conditions can cause the wiper blade to wear sooner than others, ideally you do not want to put your wipers on to clear the ice from a windscreen as the ice acts as razor blades and cuts the rubber on the blade which then in turn ruins the blades and leaves you with streaks when trying to clear the glass of water.

By lifting the arms of the wipers away from the windscreen, you can quickly assess the condition of the rubber. Ragged, jagged or distorted edges, where the blade makes contact with the glass, should prompt you to replace them immediately.

Three Key Points To Remember:

Windscreen wipers failing to fully clear the windscreen

Marks on the Windscreen: There is a lot of grime thrown at your car’s windscreen throughout a journey. Grit, dust, bugs and bird droppings all affect the performance of your cars wiper blades and will result in streaky unpleasant marks that have the potential to obscure your vision, making driving unsafe. Normally using your windscreen washers in conjunction with you blades will remove any unappealing substances from your windscreen and wipers but, over time, substances such as bird poo, which contain corrosive chemicals, will damage your wiper blades (and car body paint work) permanently. This causes the blades to leave streaks more consistently and even risks permanent scratches.
Ineffectiveness in bad weather: This is the most dangerous consequence of having dilapidated wipers. If your wiper blades are unable to lift sufficient water from your windscreen during a downpour then they must be replaced. Heavy rain won’t wait for you to get off the motorway or pull over somewhere safe so you have to know that, should the heavens open, your blades are up to the job.
Noise: Everyone is familiar with that juddering sound window wipers can make as they screech across a windscreen. Many people mistakenly believe that this is due to the rubber part of the blade being to large but it is in fact the opposite that causes this. Weak, worn out blades cannot support the weight of the arm that holds them in place and the increased weight from the arm causes the rubber to make the noise it does. This is an audible sign that your wiper blades need to be replaced, left unchecked the wipers will start to scratch the windscreen distorting the vision of the driver.

How does the heat affect my windscreen?

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26/7/2018 1 Comment

Heatwave, How It Can Affect Your Windscreen

The last few weeks have been HOT!

As the UK is having higher than usual temperatures and the summer holidays in full swing, it is easy in the excitement to pack-up-and-go on a road-trip which may cause some motorists to forget to do important car checks.
We all know how to protect ourselves from the sun by wearing sun cream and protective clothing, but we must also remember to keep the summer drive check-list in the front of our minds to ensure a safe, comfortable and more enjoyable holiday drive.

The sun is powerful enough to burn your skin, and it’s powerful enough to damage your windscreen!
That’s because the sun increases the temperature of your windscreen.

Large crack extending from a windscreen chip, now unrepairable and requires new windscreen

Stone chip Picture with penny next to it

A chip like this is repairable as shown with a penny, until a crack appears like one above which is now grown beyond repair.

If your car windscreen is already damaged, the hot weather can make it worse. The heat from the dashboard will cause the inside layer of the laminated glass to get up to 20 degrees warmer than the outside layer. This can potentially exacerbate the problem, requiring a repair or even a replacement windscreen. As this can be the same for extreme cold.
top-tips-for-windscreen-safety.html

A repairable stone chip called a Bullseye

As temperatures soar, even the smallest chip or crack in your windscreen can become worse due to speed at which the laminated glass and surrounding metal frame expands. Switching on the air conditioning inside your car can elevate the stress level of your windscreen. This could result in a sudden crack due to the large difference in temperature between the cool inner glass and warm outside air.
A tiny stone chip on your windscreen can become a much bigger problem.
When the weather is hot the glass temperature rises, reducing the strength, durability and safety of the windscreen.
Windows without a chip can not crack just do to direct sunlight. When you have minor crack it can spread due to the high temperature. If you were running the A/C really cold and parked it in direct sunlight at high temps it can cause it to start cracking from a small chip or crack.

If possible try to park away from direct sunlight and use a windscreen shade until you can get your windscreen repaired.
Keep your window cracked, as long as your car is in a safe location
In the mean time, make sure you keep out of your car things like canned drink or anything that can explode. Nothing is worse than a long hot day and sticky drinks all over the inside of your car!

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24/12/2016 0 Comments

Top Tips For Windscreen Safety

Car windscreens are tough to enable them to stand up to the everyday elements. It's vital to keep your windscreen in good condition as even though they are tough and can handle every day elements, they still require maintenance and care to prevent damage like scratches or cracks.