Summer can wreak havoc on your windshield, especially if you haven’t had any cracks or chips repaired. Here are some auto-glass repair tips on how to protect your car from the heat.
While many Calgarians are eagerly awaiting the warmer seasons, for vehicle owners, the summer heat can put your windshield at risk of significant damage whether it’s due to:
- Inclement weather
- Roadside debris
- Construction zones
Between these three factors, it’s difficult to imagine that you have a way of protecting your windshield from damage. The good news? At Diamond Glass, we offer affordable and quick stone chip repairs and windshield replacements to get your vehicle safely back on the road as soon as possible.
How Does the Summer Heat Affect Your Windshield?
Damages to your car’s windshield and emergency chip repairs can happen at any time of the year. In particular, the summer months can pose a serious threat to your windshield and increase your need for auto-glass repairs.
Some of the reasons for this include:
High Temperatures
The glass of your windshield will expand in the heat, making its structure more vulnerable within the frame. AVOID slamming doors when entering or exiting the car as this will put added pressure on the windshield, causing damage that may require immediate auto-glass repair.
In addition, fluctuating temperatures caused by warm days and cool nights or the use of an air conditioning unit can make your auto-glass more vulnerable to chips and cracks.
Increase in Construction
The summertime sees a significant increase in construction around the city and this can increase the risk of various incidents for motorists including:
- Collisions with construction vehicles
- Falling debris
- Tire damage from construction materials on the road
- Paint chipping
- Windshield damage from gravel
- Accidents from mismanaged traffic flow
To avoid any emergency stone chip repairs and protect the safety of your family, it’s advisable to keep away from any construction zones during the summer. While it’s not possible to anticipate and avoid every construction site, try to use alternate routes wherever possible.
Effect Of Heat On Existing Windshield Chips and Cracks
The hot temperatures can cause your windshield to become less stable, putting added pressure to any existing cracks or chips in the auto-glass. Be sure to get any stone chip repair work done before the cracks expand, becoming an even bigger and more expensive problem.
Avoiding Auto Glass Repairs in the Summer
Protecting your windshield during the summer is very important if you want to ensure the safety of your passengers and avoid any costly stone chip repairs.
Here are a few ways in which you can protect your auto glass from any damages this warm season:
Don't Tailgate
Driving too closely to the car in front of you will increase the risk that the other vehicle’s tires will throw debris up into your windshield. This is especially true on gravel roads or construction zones.
Make sure to put enough distance between you and other cars on the road to avoid any emergency chip repairs.
REMEMBER: Tailgating increases the chances of a rear-end collision - the most common accident that leads to expensive auto glass repairs such as windshield replacements.
Don't Drive In Inclement Weather
While rain may not affect your windshield, strong winds or a hailstorm can. If you drive in a hailstorm, you risk chunks of ice hitting and cracking your windshield.
High winds can blow roadside debris into the air, posing a threat to your auto-glass and forcing you to pay for a stone chip repair, or even worse, a full windshield replacement.
Park In The Shade
Parking in the shade (but not under trees!) can save you expensive auto glass repairs in the future. When your car sits out in the sun, the metal frame and other materials holding your windshield in place expand.
This expansion and contraction can cause your auto glass to crack or cause pre-existing chips to widen.
Call Today
To find out more about our comprehensive auto-glass repair services from windshield replacements to emergency stone chip repairs, contact our Calgary office at 403-568-7086 or request a repair quote.
