How to prevent windshield from freezing
Frozen windshields are a winter problem.
Problem solved, reviewed
Officials are urging people to stay home and avoid unnecessary travel during the winter storm, but even one incorrect piece of advice on how to defrost car windows can be costly.
Dousing your windshield with scorching hot water may seem effective at removing ice, but you might be surprised by the damage it can actually cause.
Will pouring boiling water on the windshield immediately defrost my car?
When you pour hot water on your car’s windshield to melt ice, the extreme temperature changes can actually crack or break the glass.
“While it may be tempting to immediately melt your windshield with boiling water, that’s a very bad idea. Rapid temperature changes in glass can cause it to crack, and car glass is no exception,” says Glass Doctor, a glass repair and replacement company.
Preston says using hot water to de-ice a vehicle can not only crack the windshield, but also damage the paintwork if the water melts the protective wax.
A problem occurs when the glass in the area hit by hot water expands rapidly while the rest of the windshield remains freezing cold. When a hot part of the glass comes into contact with a cold part, your windshield can crack.
How to properly defrost your car
AAA recommends using a properly working heater because a cold engine won’t produce the warm air needed to defrost your vehicle.
Once the vehicle is operating at a suitable temperature, the climate control should be set to full defrost rather than bi-level, but not to full blast right away.
AAA says sudden temperature changes can cause the glass to crack, so it’s best to let the windshield warm up gradually. The defroster should also use fresh air rather than recirculated air.
To remove snow from your windshield, use a long-handled household broom or a car snow shovel to avoid scratching the windshield.
According to Safelite AutoGlass, you can also make an anti-icing spray by making a solution of two-thirds rubbing alcohol and one-third water and spraying the solution on a frozen windshield.
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