Your car battery supplies power to the starter that turns on the engine, which means a dead battery will leave you unable to start the vehicle. This can be a frustrating experience and one that leaves you in need of a towing service. Fortunately, this situation can often be avoided by understanding and preventing the conditions that commonly drain car batteries, including the following.

Common Causes of a Dead Car Battery

1. Not Replacing an Old Battery

Batteries are designed to last, but they still need to be replaced from time to time. Performing regular vehicle maintenance according to the car manufacturer's recommendations will allow you to keep tabs on your battery and where it's at in its lifespan. While battery age differs depending on brand and usage, most should be changed around every four years. If yours is reaching that mark, consider getting a new one.

2. Leaving the Headlights On

The average car battery has anywhere from 60 to 100 amp-hours of life. Car headlights are 55 watts each, which is a little over 9.1 amps. As a result, leaving your headlights on will drain the battery entirely in a matter of hours. Get in the habit of checking that your head, dome, and dashboard lights are completely off whenever you get out of the vehicle. If this is an ongoing issue, you might also want to tape reminder notes on the steering wheel and over the interior door handle on the driver's side.

3. Taking Many Short Drives

The battery uses the bulk of its power to start the vehicle. As a result, regularly engaging in numerous short drives takes its toll on the battery, requiring it to start multiple times throughout any given day. Preserve your battery life by condensing short trips or errands into one or two longer runs that won't be so taxing on the battery.

If you need towing assistance because of a drained battery, trust Patriot Towing. Serving Southwest St. Louis, MO, and the Interstate 44 area, they provide residential and commercial towing and roadside assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They also offer heavy-duty towing for larger vehicles and equipment. Schedule a tow by calling (636) 392-5070, or visit them online to learn more about their services.