Mistakes To Avoid When Clearing Ice From Your Windshield

When ice forms on your car's windshield, removing it is necessary so as to restore visibility. The problem is that simply using brute force to scrape the ice off the windshield usually exposes it to damage. The fact that the freezing temperatures increase the windshield's susceptibility to cracking only complicates things. And so does the pressure that the heavy layers of ice put on your windshield.

To effectively get rid of ice layers without damaging their windshields, car owners have to rely on various de-icing techniques. The problem is that in the process of doing so, they sometimes end up exposing their vehicles to damage. There are times when they also put their safety at risk. The following are common ice-clearing mistakes that you should try to avoid.

Mistakes made when using the defrost technique

The defrost cycle in your vehicle can make it easy to scrape off ice layers from your windshield. This is because the heat produced by the vehicle will initiate a melting process that then loosens the bonding between the ice and your glass.

When using this technique, car owners sometimes set the fan and the defrost settings to high. And while this may increase the rate at which the ice-glass bonds melt away, it usually puts the windshield under the risk of cracking. This is so mainly because the rapid heat-up can cause varying rates of expansion within the glass. This then increases the stress within the glass, increasing the likelihood of crack formation. Avoid making this mistake by setting the defrost setting to "low".

When using this technique, it is also important to remember to check your car's tailpipe. This is because extremely low temperatures sometimes cause ice to form in the pipe, blocking it. Starting the defrost cycle while the tailpipe is blocked is a mistake that may therefore expose you to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Mistakes made when using the saltwater technique

Salt is effective at lowering the freezing point of water. Using it to both trigger melting and prevent further freezing can therefore make the ice-scraping process easier and safer.

However, there are times when car owners over apply the salt water. This is a problem since this can damage the windshield while also exposing metallic parts of the vehicle to accelerated rates of corrosion. To reduce the risks of salt-triggered corrosion and damage, make sure that you use the salt solution sparingly.

Also, while using ordinary table salt can work, it is not as effective as road salt when it comes to removing ice from your windshield under freezing temperatures. Using it may therefore necessitate the use of more force when scraping, something that may increase the risks of windshield damage. Stick to road salt for a smoother ice-removing process. Talk to a glass replacement center or collision mechanic, like Lacey Collision Center, for more help.

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