Reasons To Repair A Chipped Windshield Immediately
Updated:
09/26/2022
Chipped windshields are caused by rocks or debris kicking up from the road. Some owners may ignore chipped windshield repair in Brodheadsville PA. However, this is not a smart move.
Some car owners are meticulous about repairing something when it needs fixed. There are many who will not fix something unless it affects other aspects of their life. However, most car owners are willing to fix a water pump since their car will not work without it.
One aspect that is interesting about car owners who drive with chipped windshields is how long they actually let them go. Most car owners view chips as a cosmetic problem. They do not realize the importance of fixing chips immediately. The reason that it is so fundamental is that your windshield actually plays an important role in your safety. Given the safety issues regarding chipped windshields, it is surprising that many car owners ignore the chips.
How Your Windshield Plays A Role In Your Safety
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Your windshield plays a big role when it comes to your safety. Many car owners think that it is there just to block the wind, but it does a lot more than that. It is actually a fundamental part of the safety system of your car. If you have a chip or even a crack in your windshield, then you are compromising your safety.
Auto glass experts claim that the windshield gives strength to the structural integrity of your vehicle. If you were in an accident, your windshield would play a huge role in keeping you safe, especially when you have a front-end collision or a rollover. In a serious accident, windshields can save lives and prevent car occupants from being crushed. In the following article by www.safewindshields.org, they discuss the importance of windshields:
What role does my windshield play to ensure my safety in an accident?
The windshield is an integral part of the safety restraint system in your car. It keeps the roof from crushing in on you in a rollover, it allows the airbags to deploy in the correct position to cushion passengers, and prevents you and your family from being ejected in a serious collision. It’s important to your family’s safety that the automotive glass in your vehicle be installed properly.
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Your windshield not only acts as your vehicle’s goggles by maintaining high visibility for the driver, but it also supports the passenger’s and driver’s airbags. Cracked windshields can become detached or easily removed from your vehicle, causing the airbag to deploy improperly. A situation like this will also remove the “buffer” that the windshield plays between you and the road. Basically, windshields prevent occupants from being ejected onto the road in the case of serious accidents.
What Causes Chips To Turn Into Cracks
Once you have a chipped windshield, it is always best to get it repaired quickly. The hot weather has arrived, and it is only going to get hotter. There are many factors that contribute to cracked windshields and one of them is extreme weather. Extreme temperatures, in general, affect chips and cause your glass to expand and contract. This. in turn, causes small chips to turn into large cracks. Another factor that causes a chip to turn into a crack is pressure changes.
Driving at high speeds can cause a chip to spread. Chips smaller than one inch in diameter should be fixed right away. Windshield chips bigger than one inch in diameter can not be repaired. It requires a replacement instead. In the following article titled “Can Extreme Cold Temperatures Break Car Windows and Windshields?” by Your Mechanic, they discuss some reasons that your chips can turn into cracks:
Metal, rubber, sealant, and even glass are subject to expansion and contraction in any temperature difference. When your glass is exposed to extreme cold, there won’t be a problem if your glass is in good condition and installed correctly. Even though the glass will contract at a different rate than the metal, the sealant that holds the window has enough flexibility to allow the windshield to maintain its integrity. There is more stress on the glass, but its structure is able to withstand the pressure.
If your glass is chipped or cracked, the extra pressure on the glass can cause your window or windshield to crack or shatter, though it is more common for cracks to form than for the window to shatter. The crack will typically form from the point of weakness and extend towards the edge, but not always.
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It is best to understand that a chipped windshield can turn into a crack quickly. Regardless, most chips can be repaired and it is far less expensive to repair a chip than to replace your windshield. Once your windshield has been chipped, you are compromising your safety and the safety of others in your vehicle. There are many factors that can cause a chip to occur and additional circumstances that can cause a chip to spread.
When you have a chipped windshield, be sure to find a reputable auto glass company that can repair your chip. You want to make sure that they are certified and that they will properly repair or install your windshield. An improperly installed or repaired windshield is just as dangerous as a chipped or cracked one. Charles Eckhart, the owner of Liberty AutoGlass, shares some of his thoughts:
Don’t ignore that chip! When we meet our customers to replace their windshield, we often hear the statement made “I’ve had that chip for months and it didn’t spread until now!” Thinking that a chip won’t spread is like playing with fire, you will probably get burned! If you understand the structure of a windshield, it is easier to understand why the heat of the summer makes your windshield more susceptible to breakage.
Between the inner and outer layer of glass, there is a plastic laminate that holds the layers together. When your vehicle sits in the sun on a hot summer day your glass can reach temperatures of over 200 degrees. Yes, you can fry an egg! As the temperature increases, the plastic laminate becomes softer, and any chip or damage to the glass layer becomes susceptible to spreading especially if it has a sudden temperature shock from a cold hose while washing, the A/C or a sudden rain storm.
Having a chip addressed before it cracks makes perfect financial sense. The cost of repair is much more economical than the cost of replacement. Another benefit is that you have nothing to lose! We warranty the repairs we do for as long as you own the vehicle. IF THE REPAIRED CHIP FAILS WE DEDUCT WHAT YOU PAID FROM THE PRICE OF THE REPLACEMENT WINDSHIELD! This means that a repair costs you nothing if it fails when we replace the windshield. This makes repairing a broken windshield a smart and economical choice!
Conclusion
Contrary to popular belief, you do not have all the time in the world to fix a chipped or, worse, a cracked windshield. In fact, it is best to get it fixed right away for a number of reasons. First, you are compromising your safety and the safety of all of the passengers in your vehicle. Secondly, a chip can turn into a crack quickly for a variety of reasons, and it is more expensive to fix a crack than it is to repair a chip.
When you have a chipped windshield, be sure to address it immediately. Make sure that the company that you hire is reputable. You will need the skills of a certified auto glass technician to repair it because a poorly conducted repair job or replacement is just as unsafe as driving around with a cracked windshield.
For Superior Auto Glass Repairs, Call Liberty AutoGlass
Liberty AutoGlass offers auto glass repair using the highest quality materials and the most advanced auto glass technology to repair your auto glass correctly and quickly. We offer mobile services so we can repair your damaged auto glass at the convenience of your home or office. This means that we come to wherever your vehicle is parked and you can go about your day as you would normally. We fix windshields, back glass, door glass, vent glass, and quarter glass. We also can handle your insurance claim from start to finish, making the process easier for you! Call Liberty AutoGlass today to find out more!
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.
Liberty AutoGlass services Lehighton, Jim Thorpe, Albrightsville, PA, and surrounding areas.