by Laurel Miller
For those of us in sunny Southern California, the winter months can bring the occasional frosty weather, but up in the mountain resorts the snow has been piling up. Ski and snowboarding season is on the horizon when we travel to the resorts or across the high level passes it is important to be properly prepared to remove ice and snow from the windshield in order to safely operate a vehicle. An icy windshield can cause impaired vision, making the already precarious driving conditions even more hazardous. Improperly removing ice and snow can also compromise the structural integrity of the windshield, causing existing cracks and chips to expand.
If the windshield is covered in ice, be sure to never pour hot water directly on the windshield. The sudden change in temperature caused by pouring hot water onto a frozen windshield can cause it to crack or shatter. Prior to beginning to remove ice, start the vehicle and let it run for several minutes with the defrost setting turned on. This will begin to melt the ice and make the removal easier.
An ice scraper is a great tool for removing ice from a windshield. If this tool is unavailable, make sure to avoid using any metal objects to remove the ice, as these items can cause permanent scratches on the windshield, compromising the driver’s field of vision. Also avoid using direct flames, such as those from blowtorches, to remove ice from the windshield, as they can warp the windshield and compromise its integrity.
Remembering these simple tips can help make deicing the windshield much more manageable, ensuring safer travel during the winter months.
Laurel Miller is the owner of Glass Doctor of SWRC. She may be reached at ( 951) 894-5710.