After your car has been sitting in the sun on a hot Melbourne summer day, getting inside can feel like stepping into an oven. Your first instinct might be to start the engine, turn the air conditioner to its coldest setting and direct the vents straight at the windscreen.
While cooling the car down quickly sounds like a good idea, suddenly exposing a very hot windscreen to extremely cold air can place additional stress on the glass. And if your windscreen already has a small chip or crack, that rapid temperature change could make existing damage worse.
At NOVUS Auto Glass Mitcham, we see plenty of damaged windscreens, and summer is a good time to pay particular attention to those little chips you’ve been meaning to have repaired.
What Happens to Your Windscreen on a Hot Day?
Your windscreen is designed to cope with changing temperatures and normal Australian driving conditions. However, like many materials, glass responds to changes in temperature.
When your vehicle sits outside in direct summer sunlight, the windscreen heats up. The glass, dashboard and interior of the vehicle can all become considerably warmer than the surrounding air.
The problem isn’t simply that the windscreen is hot. It’s the sudden change in temperature that can place stress on the glass.
If very cold air is directed onto one area of a hot windscreen, that section can begin cooling faster than other parts of the glass. This uneven temperature change can create thermal stress.
A windscreen in good condition is designed to withstand everyday temperature variations, but existing damage can create a weak point.
Why Are Windscreen Chips More Vulnerable?
A tiny stone chip may not look particularly serious. You might have been driving around with it for weeks without noticing any change.
However, a chip means the glass has already been damaged.
Temperature changes can cause the glass around that damaged area to expand and contract. The stress concentrated around an existing chip may cause a small fracture to spread into a larger crack.
That’s why it’s generally better to have a windscreen chip assessed while it’s still small rather than waiting to see what happens.
Once a crack spreads too far, repairing the original chip may no longer be possible and a windscreen replacement could be required instead.
Don’t Go From Extremely Hot to Extremely Cold
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t use your car’s air conditioning during summer. Far from it – nobody wants to drive around Melbourne on a 35°C day without it.
The key is to avoid an unnecessarily abrupt temperature change, particularly if you know your windscreen is already chipped.
When you first get into a very hot vehicle, consider opening the doors or windows briefly to allow some of the trapped hot air to escape.
Start the air conditioning at a moderate setting and allow the interior to begin cooling before turning it to its coldest setting.
If possible, avoid immediately directing an intense stream of very cold air at one particular section of an extremely hot windscreen.
A more gradual temperature change is kinder to the glass – and it will still get you comfortable soon enough.
Other Summer Habits to Avoid
Cold air isn’t the only thing to think about when looking after your windscreen during summer.
Never be tempted to pour very cold water over extremely hot auto glass in an attempt to cool it quickly. Again, the sudden temperature difference is the issue, particularly if the glass is already damaged.
It’s also worth checking your windscreen before heading away on a summer road trip.
Look for small stone chips, cracks and other damage that you may have overlooked during everyday driving. A tiny chip is much easier to forget about when you’re only driving around Mitcham than when you’re hundreds of kilometres from home.
What Should You Do If You Find a Windscreen Chip?
If you spot a chip, getting it assessed sooner rather than later is a good idea.
Whether it can be repaired will depend on factors including the type, size and location of the damage. Not every chip can be safely repaired, so it needs to be properly assessed.
Professional windscreen chip repair is designed to restore the damaged area and help prevent the damage from spreading. When repair isn’t appropriate, replacement may be the safer option.
The important thing is not to assume a small chip will stay small.
Get Your Windscreen Ready for Summer
Summer means more time on the road for many Melbourne families, whether you’re heading to the beach, visiting family over Christmas or setting off on a longer holiday.
Before you go, take a few minutes to inspect your windscreen.
If you’ve noticed a stone chip or crack, now is a good time to get it checked rather than waiting until you’re packing the car for your summer road trip.
Windscreen Repair & Replacement in Mitcham
If your windscreen is chipped, cracked or damaged, NOVUS Auto Glass Mitcham can assess the damage and determine whether windscreen repair or replacement is the appropriate solution.
Our experienced auto glass technicians provide professional windscreen repairs and replacements in Mitcham and surrounding Melbourne suburbs, helping get you back on the road with clear, safe auto glass.
Don’t let a tiny chip turn into a much bigger summer problem.
Contact NOVUS Auto Glass Mitcham today to arrange an assessment of your damaged windscreen before the summer heat arrives.