Windshield Pitting: Causes & How To Get It Fixed
Simply put, windshield pitting is a type of windscreen damage caused by tiny flying debris including small pebbles, dust, and sand. Usually, such debris does not cause significant windshield damage. However, with prolonged exposure, it creates tiny craters called “pits” in a car’s windshield. This phenomenon is called pitting.
Windshield pitting is a potential safety hazard because it can reduce your visibility on the road, putting you and other road users at risk. Additionally, it can compromise the structural integrity of your car, making your vehicle unsafe to operate. With that in mind, here is some more information on this topic.
What Are The Causes Of Windshield Pitting?
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Caused by a wide range of factors, windshield pitting is a natural process. Some of the factors that contribute to this type of windshield damage include:
- Frequent travel in dusty or sandy areas
- Driving on freeways and other high-traffic roads where flying debris causes small craters in your windshield
- Rain and sleet
- Salt from sea spray
- Exposure to chemical contaminants
- Exposure to frequent temperature changes
- Age: An old windshield may show signs of pitting even in the absence of other factors
Risks Of Driving With Windshield Pitting
Windshield pitting causes tiny craters to form in your windshield. When bright light, such as sunlight or streetlight, strikes these craters at a certain angle, the craters magnify or refract the light.
When this happens, you can experience a blinding glare on your car’s windshield. Because the craters cause harsh light to reflect off your windshield, they put you and other road users at risk. To avoid such a situation, you should get a qualified auto glass technician to replace your pitted windshield as soon as possible.
Besides obstructing your vision, these craters will make your windshield less secure. Your windshield is an important safety feature in your car and should always be in optimal condition. More specifically, if your windshield has pits, it is more likely to shatter in the event you are involved in a car accident. Weak glass is a safety issue that we need to correct immediately. If you feel that your car’s pitted windshield is a potential safety hazard, you should call a qualified auto glass technician to replace it.
Another risk of windshield pitting is it can damage your car’s windshield wipers or render them ineffective. For example, in the event of a downpour, your windshield wipers will not be able to clean your windshield correctly. Even worse, they may cause severe damage to your windshield.
Solutions For Pitted Windshields
According to most auto glass experts, the only reliable solution for a pitted windshield is a windshield replacement. Attempts to polish away the damage will make your windshield uneven, weakening it further. As mentioned above, a weak windshield is a big problem because your windshield is an essential safety feature in your car. By opting for windshield replacement, you will protect yourself as well as other road users.
Conclusion
Windshield pitting is a type of windshield damage caused by a wide range of factors. Some of the factors include age, frequent temperature changes, chemical contaminants, flying debris, as well as rain and sleet.
Defined by small craters in the windshield, windshield pitting can cause harsh light to reflect off your windshield, obstructing your vision. Additionally, windshield pitting can compromise the structural integrity of your car.
The only effective solution for a pitted windshield is windshield replacement. Polishing away the damage will only make your windshield weaker, which could potentially lead to serious problems in the future.
When you need auto glass services, including a windshield replacement, give Liberty AutoGlass a call.
We take our services seriously by ensuring that we deliver phenomenal customer service as well as skilled auto glass services. Not only that, we offer the best prices for auto glass repairs, windshield installations, and other auto glass services in our area. Liberty AutoGlass stands by the work that we do by offering a lifetime guarantee for as long as you own your car. Take advantage of our in-shop or mobile services by giving us a call today.
Contact us today or give us a call at (610) 377-7787 or (877) 90-GLASS if you have any questions. Click here to view our complete mobile auto glass service area in Pennsylvania.