It may be tempting to crank your AC the moment you get into your scorching hot car, but we seriously urge you to think twice before doing so. Doing this can cause the unpleasant surprise of stress cracks in your windshield. Stress cracks occur due to sudden changes in temperature which cause windshield glass to expand (when heated) and shrink (when cooled), causing stress in the windshield. If the glass experiences enough stress, it will crack.
Direct sunlight exposure can also cause stress cracks in your windshield. Metal heats up faster than glass and when the metal edges of your windshield heat up faster than the middle of the glass, this can cause stress that leads to cracking. Most often, people notice these cracks start at the edges of their windshield and move inward.
The good news is, while we can’t control the weather, we can control how much our cars are exposed to it and be more mindful to prevent stress cracks. The first major tip is to avoid direct sunlight as much as possible by parking in the shade or a garage. When parking in the shade or a garage is not an option, make sure that you slowly turn up the AC when you get into your hot car. Also, when washing your car on a hot day, take the time to use warm water instead of cold water.
While some stress cracks can be repaired, most often times these are irreparable and require a full windshield replacement. Either way, the auto glass experts of Abra are here to help! Whether you need a simple repair or a full windshield replacement, we can handle any of your auto glass needs.
If there is a problem and you can’t make it to our shop, be sure to take advantage of our FREE Mobile Windshield Replacement making your stress crack stress-free! No matter where you are or what you need, Abra Auto is here to provide quality workmanship, superior service, and dedication to detail in everything that we do!