Avoid Cracking Your Windshield in Extreme Heat

Beach vacations, cookouts, and road drives are all part of summer, but it also brings with it a quiet danger to your car: intense heat. As the temperature rises, most drivers carefully check their coolant levels and tire pressure, but they frequently ignore the windshield until it’s too late. When you return from a supermarket run, you can notice a jagged line across the glass that appears to have appeared out of nowhere. It’s physics, not bad luck. Knowing why your windshield experiences so much stress in the summer can help you avoid having to replace it, which could cost hundreds of dollars. You may be surprised to learn how much heat impacts the structural integrity of car glass. 

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The Science of Heat-Related Glass Cracking

Knowing what is going on at the molecular level aids in preventing damage. Polyvinyl butyral, a type of plastic, is positioned between two layers of glass to form windshields. Although its architecture is safe, it responds differently to temperature variations.

Thermal Growth: Materials expand when heated and compress when cooled, according to basic physics. Glass is no different. The glass in your car swells when it is exposed to the intense heat. 

The glass doesn’t always heat up evenly, which is the problem. Your car’s metal frame heats up more quickly than the glass center, which causes the edges to expand more slowly than the center. Tension results from this.

Thermal Shock’s Danger: Thermal shock is the most frequent cause of summer windshield cracks. This happens when the glass’s temperature fluctuates too quickly. 

When you abruptly blast the air conditioner at 60°F (15°C) straight onto your windshield while it is roasting at 100°F (38°C) or higher, the quick contraction generates tension. The stress is released as a crack because the glass cannot adjust fast enough.

How to Keep Your Windscreen Safe in Severe Heat

To keep your glass safe, you don’t have to be a mechanic. The danger of damage can be considerably decreased by making minor adjustments to the way you drive, park, and clean your vehicle.

First, steer clear of abrupt temperature changes. When you get into a hot car, your natural reaction is to turn up the air conditioning and direct the vents toward your face and the windshield. This will only end badly.

To allow the superheated air to escape, lower the windows for the first minute of your journey. Use a low setting when you first turn on the air conditioner and direct the vents toward the floor or the cabin rather than the windshield. Let the room cool down gradually. This prevents the glass from being shocked and allows it to adapt to the changing temperature.

Second, Check for Chips Right Away: Although a small rock chip may appear to be an aesthetic inconvenience, it represents a structural vulnerability that is ready to collapse in extreme temperatures. Consider a chip as a weak spot in the surface tension of the glass.

Glass needs a place to go when it expands as a result of heat. A chipped piece of glass has a breaking point, yet a solid sheet of glass may withstand this expansion to some extent. 

The chip will “run” into a lengthy crack as a result of the stress’s natural emphasis on it. Chip repairs are inexpensive and frequently covered by insurance, while full windshield replacements are not.

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Parking Strategically

The enemy is direct sunshine. Park under a shaded tree, in a garage, or under a parking structure whenever you can. The temperature is considerably lower when the glass is shielded from the direct sun.

Think about which way you park if there isn’t any shade. You may protect the windshield from the worst of the heat by parking with the back of the vehicle facing the sun. It also helps to use a high-quality sunshade at the front window. It can also reflect some heat away from the glass itself, although its main function is to keep the interior and dashboard cool.

Fourth, Take Care When Washing Your Car: A traditional summertime pastime is washing your car on a steamy Saturday afternoon, but use caution when using the hose. The same thermal shock effect as blasting the air conditioner is produced when cold tap water is sprayed onto an automobile that has been exposed to the sun.

If you want to wash your car, it’s best to do so in the early morning or late at night when the air is cooler and your car’s surface is cooler. Alternatively, before using cold water, rinse the automobile with lukewarm water to gradually lower the surface temperature.

Fifth, Treat Doors Gently: A sealed car’s internal pressure rises as the air inside gets hotter. The air pressure against the windows increases when a car door is slammed. The force of a slammed door may be the last straw that creates a break in your windshield if it already has a microscopic chip or is under stress from thermal expansion. During heat waves, softly close doors.

Differentiating between Stress and Impact Cracks

How do you tell if you were struck by a rock while driving or if the damage was brought on by the heat?

Impact Cracks: Usually, these occur when something hits the glass. At the site of impact, you will notice a “bullseye” or starburst pattern with cracks extending outward. Usually, you can feel a pit or hard place where the object struck your fingernail.

Temperature variations are nearly always the source of stress cracks. Stress cracks usually begin at the extreme edge of the windshield (where the glass contacts the metal frame) and spread inside; they seldom ever have a point of impact or a “pit.” They frequently resemble a wavy pen stroke or a neat, straight line.

How to Handle a Cracked Windshield: Time is of the essence if you see a fracture developing. During a heatwave, a tiny crack can spread throughout the whole viewing area in a few hours or days.

Measure it: In general, a crack may be repairable if it is less than six inches, or the length of a dollar bill. You may need a complete replacement if it’s longer.

Cover it: Cover the crack with a piece of transparent tape if you can’t get to a shop right away. Although the breaking is not stopped, this keeps moisture and dirt out of the crack, making the final repair more hygienic and efficient.

Contact a Professional: A stress crack should not be repaired at home with superglue. Because auto glass is specialized, poor repairs might jeopardize the vehicle’s structural integrity, which is essential for airbag deployment and roof support in collisions.

Common Questions

Is it possible for window tint to stop my windshield from breaking? A high-quality ceramic window tint may effectively block infrared heat and UV rays, keeping the glass and interior cooler. It lessens the severe temperatures that cause thermal stress, but it does not make the glass impervious.

Is it safe to operate a vehicle with a cracked windshield? The location and degree of severity determine this. It is risky and probably against the law if the fracture blocks the driver’s line of sight. Additionally, in a rollover, the windshield contributes as much as 30% of the vehicle’s structural strength. This safety feature is compromised by a huge crack.

Are stress cracks covered by insurance? Glass damage is covered by many comprehensive insurance policies, frequently with little to no repair deductible. Coverage for complete replacement, however, varies. Verify the details of your particular coverage because stress cracks frequently need to be replaced rather than repaired.

Remain calm and maintain a clear vision. Your windshield is an essential safety feature that serves several purposes to keep you and your passengers safe, and it is much more than just a barrier against insects or debris. It guarantees that airbags deploy properly, protects the structural integrity of your car, and permits sophisticated sensors to operate as intended.

This crucial component is subjected to extreme heat and abrupt temperature variations during the summer, which increases its susceptibility to chips, warping, and cracks. Thankfully, a small amount of awareness can significantly reduce the likelihood of expensive harm.

The integrity of the material can be preserved by avoiding thermal shock, such as blasting air conditioning over a scorching windshield or pouring cold water over hot glass. Even tiny chips can be repaired as soon as they appear to stop them from growing into more costly, wider fissures.

Additionally, basic parking techniques like using sunshades or looking for shady spots may greatly lessen heat accumulation and glass stress. You may travel through the warmest days of the year with a clear, unhindered vision of the road ahead if you take these steps.

Your safety systems will be intact, your windshield will be sturdy, and you will have a safe and comfortable ride. Examine your glass now and take the necessary care of it before the summer heat damages it. Insightful summertime practices that prevent windshield chips from spreading

The sound is familiar to all of us. That sharp, unexpected crack that occurs when a piece of gravel that was stirred up by a truck on the highway hits your windshield. It leaves behind a small, harmless-looking chip. You give it a quick look, shrug, and promise yourself that you’ll take care of it later. It is, after all, little.

But then summer comes. Before you know it, that little flaw has spiderwebbed over your perspective as the temperature rises and the sun beats down.

Perhaps the most hazardous time of year for auto glass is during the summer. Heat is a quiet killer, despite the fact that we frequently associate windshield damage with winter hail or slippery roadways. Glass damage is made possible by a confluence of high sun radiation, temperature swings, and increased road traffic.

A tiny chip doesn’t have to turn into a huge replacement price, which is good news. During the warmer months, you may protect your windshield and your pocketbook by forming a few wise habits.

Why Heat is Bad for Car Glass

Understanding the science underlying damage prevention is helpful. When heated, glass expands, and when cooled, it contracts. Windshields are made to withstand moderate temperature fluctuations, and this is a typical physical process.

But in reality, a windshield is made up of two panes of glass separated by a layer of vinyl. The outer layer’s structural integrity is jeopardized when a chip appears.

The temperature inside your automobile can rise much higher than the outside air on a normal summer day. Your car’s interior can easily reach 140°F (60°C) or higher if the outside temperature is 90°F (32°C). 

The glass grows, warms up, and presses up against that little chip’s limits. A $50 repair becomes a $400 replacement when the glass breaks due to the stress and lack of a place to go.

First, steer clear of the AC’s “thermal shock”. After getting into a hot automobile, there’s nothing better than turning on the air conditioner. Sadly, your windshield doesn’t agree.

When a material has a sudden change in temperature, “thermal shock” takes place. It is extremely stressful to hit your windshield with a blast of ice-cold air from the defroster vents if it has been scorching in the sun for hours and is hot to the touch. 

While the remainder of the glass stays hot, the glass in that location tends to compress quickly. This abrupt change is frequently sufficient to cause a crack, if there is even a tiny chip.

The Solution: To allow the hot air to leave, roll down the windows for a minute rather than turning on the air conditioner right away. Instead of directing the airflow directly onto the windshield, slant the vents toward the floor or the passengers when you switch on the air conditioning. Allow the vehicle to cool down gradually.

Second, whenever possible, park in a shaded area.

This may seem easy, but it’s one of the best methods to keep your car’s glass safe. The glass’s surface temperature rises far more quickly in direct sunshine than in the surrounding air.

You can lessen the glass’s excessive expansion by parking in a garage, beneath a tree, or on a building’s shaded side. This prevents any current chips from being under pressure.

The Solution: Use a high-quality windshield sunshade if you are unable to obtain shade. They help to control the temperature by reflecting some heat away from the glass, even though their main purpose is to keep the dashboard and interior cool.

Avoid Slamming The Doors

An automobile door slam produces an abrupt vibration that passes through the vehicle’s chassis and into the glass. A windshield that has a chip and is under stress from extreme temperatures is like a ticking time bomb. The last straw that makes the chip run might be the shockwave from a slammed door.

The Solution: Be kind. Carefully yet firmly close the door. Remind your passengers to be cautious with the doors if you have any, especially children who might be excited to go to the beach. If it’s safe to do so, leaving a window slightly open can help lessen the impact of a door closing by lowering the air pressure inside the cabin.

Fourth,  on the highway, keep your distance: There are more cars, trucks, and construction vehicles on the highway during the summer because it’s road trip season. During the warmer months, construction projects often increase, which results in more loose gravel and debris on the roads.

Following the car in front of us too closely is the main cause of windshield chips. When a stone is kicked up by their tires, it travels less distance and strikes your glass faster.

The Solution: Increase the distance you follow. The “three-second rule” is a decent safety guideline, but quadruples that if you are behind a dump truck or another vehicle that is towing a trailer. The proactive method of preventing new chips from forming and preventing further impacts from aggravating existing ones is to give yourself more space.

Fifth, take care of the harm right away. Not waiting is the most efficient habit of all. Many drivers put off fixing a chip because they believe it would take too long or be too expensive.

In actuality, repairing a chip typically takes less than half an hour. In order to bridge the gap, fuse the glass together, and restore the structural integrity, a specialist injects a unique resin into the chip. The force on the glass is released after the resin cures, preventing the split from spreading.

The Solution: Plan a repair as soon as you see a chip, no matter how tiny. Because insurance companies would much prefer to pay for a little repair now than a complete windshield replacement later, many insurance policies cover chip repair with no deductible. Avoid wasting a bright afternoon waiting in a waiting room by using mobile glass services, which can even travel to your house or place of business.

Do you have a Question?

Get An Auto Glass Replacement Quote Now 866.278.7417

Give Your Car a Thorough Wash

It’s a summertime ritual to wash your automobile, but watch the water temperature. Thermal shock occurs when cool water from a hose is applied to a hot windshield, just like with an air conditioner.

The Solution: When the air (and the glass) is cooler, wash your automobile in the early morning or late at night. Make sure the glass is cool to the touch before misting it with water if you have to wash it during the day.

FAQ: Summer heat and auto glass: Is it possible for a chip to become a crack simply by being exposed to sunlight? Indeed. The weakened area surrounding the chip cannot withstand the stress when the glass heats up and expands. Parking a car with a chip and coming back an hour later to see a long crack is not unusual.

What is the maximum size of a chip before it requires replacement rather than repair? In general, the chip can be fixed if its diameter is less than a quarter, or about 1 inch. You will probably need a complete replacement if it is larger than that or immediately in the driver’s line of sight.

Is window tinting effective at preventing cracks? Typically, window tint is placed on the interior of the glass. It can keep the car’s inside colder, but it doesn’t stop the glass’s outside from warming up and expanding. It won’t stop a chip from spreading.

Is it okay to drive when your windshield is cracked? The severity determines this. A huge crack can jeopardize the car’s structural integrity, although a minor chip is usually safe. Up to 40% of the roof’s structural strength in a rollover accident comes from the windshield. A cracked windshield is weaker and might not provide you with enough protection.

Avoid Letting the Sun Ruin Your Plans

Instead of worrying about whether your windshield will withstand the heat, summer should be spent taking road trips, spending time at the beach, and enjoying the sun. Glass, however, is remarkably erratic. 

Even the best windshields can be severely stressed by the extremes of summer weather, which include scorching sun, extreme heat, and quick temperature swings.

You can safeguard your investment and have a worry-free travel season by keeping these things in mind. Keep an eye out for abrupt temperature changes: never pour cold water on heated glass or blast cold air conditioning immediately onto a blazing windshield. 

Simple parking techniques can significantly lessen heat discomfort, such as selecting covered areas or utilizing a parasol. Additionally, minor damage should not be ignored because small chips and cracks can quickly enlarge when exposed to summer heat and road vibration.

Don’t wait for the next heatwave to test the limitations of a chip that is currently quarter-sized or smaller. In the presence of intense heat, a little flaw could quickly grow into a far more significant and costly issue. 

It’s not just a repair when you call a professional to have it sealed right away; it’s a preventative precaution that keeps your windshield strong, clear, and safe. Although it might seem like a tiny step, protecting your glass is one of the best travel practices you can implement this season. 

Clear views, confident handling, and the assurance that your windshield is prepared for any situation that the road and weather may provide are all ways to fully enjoy summer driving with a little forethought.