How to Handle Cracks and Chips on Your Windshield
As much as you want to protect your car, there are just some external factors you cannot avoid. Instances like an enemy keying your car or unexpected incidents you can’t avoid can happen to you sooner or later no matter how good of a driver you are.
One common type of damage is a crack on your windshield. Common factors such as temperature, inclement weather, and external debris can crack or chip your glass. If such damage does happen, here’s what you can do to stop the damage from growing.
Crack vs. Chip: What’s the Difference?
There are four types of windshield damage, but the two most common (and fixable) are cracks and chips. Cracks are small lines less than an inch long. It doesn’t have any branches (smaller lines that form from it) and can be fixed in auto glass repair shops. Chips are more round-like cracks than actual lines and are roughly the same size in diameter.
In both cases, minor cracks and chips will need to be repaired or filled in. You don’t have to replace the entire windshield when you see these damages, but you will need to drive carefully and have it fixed as soon as possible to avoid the cracks and chips from growing bigger.
Inspect Your Windshield
In a part article, I explained how to avoid getting cracks on your windshield. But because some cracks are so small, you may not notice it until it gets bigger. As much as possible, you’ll want to address the crack as soon as it appears on your windshield. After all, the bigger the crack, the more it will cost to repair (and the more likely you may be recommended to just have the whole windshield replaced) and the longer it will take to fix. Make it a habit to check your windshield for cracks and chips at the end of the day when you return home.
Avoid Bumpy Roads
Once you see the cracks and chips, you can hold off your trip to the auto glass repair shop until the weekend or during your free time, but you’ll need to be careful about how you drive before your trip to the service shop.
Avoid bumpy, rocky, and pothole-filled holes. Slow down at speedbumps to prevent your car from going too fast. At this point, your glass’ stability isn’t as strong as it originally was, and hard bumps from driving through instances such as these can risk the glass from cracking even further.
Don’t Drive in the Rain
Until you have your cracks fixed, avoid driving in the rain or extremely windy weather. When your car is not on the road, keep it dry and clean in your garage or a car park. Rainwater and wind carry debris that can seep into the small cracks and chips in your car. If there’s too much in between the crack, it may be difficult to repair and fill out the cracks without leaving a visible mark.
Don’t Drive in Extreme Temperatures
In my previous article, I said driving in extreme temperatures can cause cracks because of the temperature change. The same applies if you’re trying to avoid making your cracks grow bigger. Here’s a video of how glass can easily break when exposed to extreme temperature changes.
While windshields are built to be stronger than ordinary glass bottles, most average windshields have the same risk of breaking from the temperature. Extreme heat causes glass to expand, and when your windshield has hit its limit, it will start to crack. On the other hand, extreme cold in the winter can cause the glass to go brittle, making it more prone to cracking.
Use Nail Polish
If the weather in your area makes it difficult to follow the past few rules, adding nail polish over the cracks and chips can serve as a good temporary glue before you visit your service center. First, clean your windshield with auto glass cleaner and a clean rag. Next, apply clear nail polish over the crack or chip and fill it out. Once it dries, secure the nail polish with a clean layer of transparent tape. This won’t hold forever, but it can help stop the damage from growing until you get it professionally fixed.
Some auto blogs will tell you to use superglue, but this should be avoided. Nail polish’s composition isn’t harmful on your glass windshield, but superglue has components that can be difficult to remove from the glass, especially if mishandled during application.
When Is It Time to Get a Replacement?
Should you decide to leave your cracks and chips unrepaired for a long time, it is possible for these cracks to grow into bigger types of windshield damage. Star damage is when a large object (like a rock) impacts the glass. Based on the cracks and chips, you can tell where the debris hit the glass. On the other hand, bullseye damage is when a large chip is taken off.
In both cases, your entire windshield will need to be replaced. Bullseye damage has taken out a significant chunk that can’t be filled, and when you try to fill in star damage, the damage is so visible that it becomes distracting to the driver and it is more practical to just get it totally replaced.
Once you take your car to a repair shop, technicians can properly fill out the chips and repair the cracks with minimal visibility. Since repairs are much cheaper than total windshield replacements, it’s practical to follow these steps and stop cracks from getting bigger rather than ignoring the problem until it damages your entire car, blocks your visibility, and costs you more money than you originally didn’t need to spend.