Winter is officially here and it’s by far the harshest season on your auto glass. With snow, hail and wind soon to contend with on a regular basis, it’s an important time of year to do some simple checks. Follow these easy steps to keep your vision clear through the colder months.

We all like to take pride in our cars, but sometimes life gets in the way and it’s not always so easy to keep those windscreens squeaky clean. Make an effort when you can, especially at this time of the year, and rather than a quick spritz, be sure to thoroughly wash the glass and rid away any watermarks that may have been caused by the worsening weather.

While you’re there, go the extra mile and give your windscreen wipers a good wash and rinse too, this will also benefit your windshield. As will regularly removing those pesky tree leaves that seem to collect at an alarming rate, get caught up under the wipers and have the potential to scratch the glass.

Taking these precautions can make a big difference to the life expectancy of your windscreen so give your car the TLC she needs now and save yourself the hassle of a ruined windshield in the future. Thoroughly cleaning your windshield can help prevent against unnecessary weakening and damage.

If you’ve ever needed to use your windscreen wipers while driving and then wished you hadn’t because the streaks left behind have only caused more of a visibility issue than before, then you’ve already experienced the annoyances and potential dangers of windshield wipers failing to do their intended job. If possible, avoid getting to this point.

Check your windshield wipers for damage, making sure nothing looks out of place or frayed and don’t delay in replacing them should you find any issues, as this will only cause more damage. For instance, if your windscreen wipers are defective and you find yourself caught in a storm, scratching the glass on your windshield is a more than likely outcome. You should expect to change your windshield wipers from time to time as they are only made from rubber and constantly exposed to the elements. Noticeable rough cuts and cracks, as well as worn rubber, can occur from constant use and the drying sun and are but some signs that its time for a change.

Another way to check your wipers are working correctly is to pay attention to the sounds they make. If they vibrate against the auto glass or make a scratching noise then it’s probably safe to say its time to replace them before any further damage is done.

We all know how frustrating it is to have a chip or a crack in our windshield, praying that we don’t make it worse each time we drive. In reality, we also know that the longer we avoid the issue, the worse the issue becomes. Rather than waiting for the crack or chip to inevitably worsen to the point of no return, why not tackle the issue head on and do what you can to prevent a bigger, more expensive problem. Make the decision to get your windshield repaired by the professionals while you still can and avoid a complete windshield replacement.

So remember that damaged auto glass can quickly and easily get worse during cold weather as the cold air can seep into the cracks and further weaken the glass. In order to prevent auto glass replacement, be prepared to regularly check and maintain your windshield.