Keep Your Windscreen Safe This Winter

If you own a car, you will almost certainly have experienced those times when you leave your home in the morning and realise it’s been a very cold night. You know the kind of thing – thick ice, maybe a thin layer of snow, maybe worse. Suddenly you know it’s going to be a while before you can see out of that windscreen in order to drive away.

With any luck you haven’t fallen into the trap of getting rid of the ice in double quick time, thanks to the assistance of a boiling kettle. Many people try this, thinking it will solve the problem and prevent them having to scrape away at the ice for ages. But in reality you will probably end up with a cracked windscreen thanks to the abrupt change in temperature.

You’re more likely to get problems if you have a chipped windscreen as well. While some chips stay exactly as they are for ages and never change, others can turn into cracks without much warning at all; and there is no doubt that freezing temperatures don’t help matters. Chips in your screen also mean your windscreen is not as strong as it should be – and that can lead to problems if something should hit your screen.

A lot of people simply leave any chips in their windscreen until they trigger a crack. But ironically they would be much faster and easier to get dealt with if you got them repaired as soon as they appeared; most of the time you will find a basic repair takes just a few minutes.

Therefore, keep an eye on the health of your windscreen at all times. But if there is a prolonged cold snap and you find yourself outside scraping the ice off it every day, it gives you the perfect chance to check it out. Make sure you check near the edges of the screen as well as the middle, where you are more likely to see any chips. A couple of minutes spent doing this while you are freeing your screen of ice can make all the difference.

The good news is, regardless of whether you get your car insurance online or elsewhere, there is a chance you could get the repair done for free. All you need to do is check your policy to find out. So keep an eye on your windscreen this winter; you will be glad you did.

Paul McIndoe writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.