With some of the lowest temperatures of the season so far underway, drivers will be cranking up the heat in their vehicles.
When temperatures are this low, the risk of a broken windshield is high.
Glass Doctor’s Dave Disbrow says the change between the subfreezing temperatures and the heat from your car’s heating unit can cause the glass to crack.
"If you let your car warm up first, even if you put it on low frost that’s hot air hitting a cold windshield. If you get a raw chip in it, you get into a glass shop immediately and get it fixed, it will save your windshield from cracking. Raw chip repair will cost you 59 dollars, windshield replacement is generally anywhere from 240 up to a thousand dollars"
Although most people with a cracked windshield try to wait out the winter.
"Windshields do break this time of year, but most people try to wait till springtime to get them replaced."
Disbrow says repairs should be done sooner than later to prevent any further damage.
"Anytime you have a cracked windshield the vehicle is basically unsafe to drive. Everyone does it but with a cracked windshield there’s more risk of getting injured in a wreck."
And there’s no wrong time to replace a windshield.
You can get your windshield replaced at any time.
"We can do it anytime, any temperature."
If you have a cracked or chipped windshield, The Glass Doctor is located at 2825 10th Avenue South to help you drive safely this winter.
