Heading into the cold season with a cracked windshield can be a dangerous game. While your glass and frame are made to handle many different stresses, frigid weather can cause an already present fracture to spread, reducing the strength of the glass in the process. If you’re in this kind of situation and haven’t already made plans for windshield repairs, the guide below will explain why you might want to before winter arrives.

Temperature Affects Glass Shape

Changes in temperature will cause windshield glass to contract and expand. If it gets cold enough, the glass could even take on a concave shape, which will put stress on any present damage and cause it to spread. A small chip could easily turn into a long horizontal crack before the season is over. According to the Motor Industry Research Association (MIRA), you have a 60% chance of seeing damage grow once temperatures go below 32 degrees. This increases up to 80% at 14 degrees.

Defrosters & De-Icers Spread Damage

Have you ever taken a cold glass out of the refrigerator or freezer and heated it up too quickly? Do you remember what happened? Fortunately, your windshield shouldn’t shatter, but if it has minor damage, rapidly warming it up could further weaken the glass and increase the size of cracks. Don’t think you can just skip using the defroster by scraping any snow or ice away with a de-icer either. The pressure from these devices can also cause already present chips or cracks to spread.

Moisture Penetrates Chips

If your windshield has any small or unnoticeable chips, moisture can seep into them. When it freezes, this liquid will expand and cause the damage to grow. Unless you seek out immediate windshield repairs, you can expect this process to happen each time the temperature drops below freezing.

If you’ve noticed one or two small chips on your windshield, get them quickly repaired before the temperature drops. For close to 40 years, the professionals at Hilltop Auto Glass have provided auto glass repair and replacement services to those in the Apollo, Kittanning, and Natrona Heights, PA, communities. Their trained team provides highly skilled windshield repair and replacement at affordable rates and quick turnaround times. For more information on the company, call them today at (724) 567-7441 or toll free at 800-544-1713 or visit their website.