Got a New Windshield? Useful Tips On Care and Maintenance – Vol 1

Let’s say that you got your windshield replaced because the old one was chipped or cracked. So now, you want to make sure that the new windshield lasts as long as possible, and you should. A well maintained windshield not provides good view out and most importantly it protects both you and your passengers and the structural integrity of your car.

You can find many tips and DIY solutions on how to properly maintain your windshield. Some of them are good, some of them are not. We at Auto Glass Express would like to share our tips and tricks (and secrets) on how to properly care for and maintain your windshield!

There are a few things you need to do right after your windshield replacement and a few things you will do occasionally in the following weeks, months and even year. Both are extremely important if you want to avoid another windshield replacement.

Things to do right after your windshield replacement

Once you’ve replaced your windshield, you’d be heading home. You should keep in mind that the new windshield is most vulnerable in the first 48 hours after replacement, so you need to make sure that you follow these tips in order to protect your windshield properly

Don’t drive for a few hours.

When replacing windshield, the auto glass shop uses urethane-based adhesive to fix the windshield in place. This adhesive takes a bit of time to dry and cure after installation. So for an hour or two, after installation, we strongly recommend that you avoid driving your car once you return home. But if you can, you should avoid driving the car until the very next day since the urethane glue takes a bit longer to dry and cure.

Don’t slam doors!

When you open and close your car doors, you’re creating pressure change in your car. This pressure change is particularly rapid and strong when you slam the door. And since the adhesive hasn’t cured yet properly, slamming your car doors can compromise this. So for the first few hours after windshield installation, close the car doors gently and avoid rapid and unnecessary pressure changes.

Don’t touch the tape

When installing a new windshield, the auto glass technicians will leave an adhesive tape on the edges of your windshield. This tape has a very important purpose. While the adhesive dries, the tape prevents any dust build-up or debris compromising the seal. So until the adhesive dries and cures, don’t remove the tape. After about a day or two, once the adhesive has proper time to dry, you can gently remove the tape.

Washing your vehicle

Yes, we are still on the topic of the adhesive not drying fast enough. With that in mind, be aware that the intense water pressure during washing your car can seriously compromise the seal of your windshield and even cause the molding to shift a bit. This isn’t something you want. A slightly shifted windshield isn’t perfectly positioned, and you’re running the risk of compromising the function of the windshield and your safety. It’s best to leave any car washing after 48 hours after replacement.

At Auto Glass Express, we know that a windshield replacement is a rather big deal. So in order to have it replaced properly, contact us today and schedule an appointment. You can also reach out to us with any questions regarding windshield replacement and repairs whether you have a car, truck or RV.

The post Got a New Windshield? Useful Tips On Care and Maintenance – Vol 1 appeared first on Auto Glass Express: Windshield Replacement & Repair | Auto Glass.

source https://autoglassexpress.com/got-a-new-windshield-useful-tips-on-care-and-maintenance-vol-1/

Easily Defog your Car Windows

During cold or humid months, car owners frequently deal with fog. This usually happens when the colder air hits the windows which is warm from heat inside. Or maybe you just got in your car after a nice day at the spa and condensation arises. Fog created this way can seriously impact your view of the road and you won’t be able to drive safely.

What causes car windows to fog?

Lowe temperatures cause lower relative humidity. Generally speaking, cool air has more reduced moisture compared for example a warmer interior environment. Let’s say that it’s raining heavily outside and you enter your car with a wet jacket. This way you are increasing the humidity of your car’s interior. And since the inside of your car is warmer, the excess moisture will start evaporating and sticking to your car windows.

What can do to defog my car windows?

There are four quite easy steps that you can take in order to quickly defog your car’s windows.

1. Crank up the heat!

This should be the No 1 think you do when you get into your car. Turn on the heating to maximum! Because of the high heat level in your car, the moisture will be absorbed by the car interior.

2. Turn on the AC

The second thing you can to od turn on the AC. Yes, you might think that turning on the AC will make things worse, but you’re wrong. The air conditioning will further reduce the amount of moisture in the car and thus defog the car windows.

3. No air recirculation

In order to defog the car windows, you need cooler air from the outside which has less moisture than the air in your car. That’s why you should turn off air recirculation and let your car’s AC ‘exchange’ the interior highly-moisturized air with the outer moisture-deficient air. Turning off air recirculation is dead easy. You just have to press a button with a curved arrow in a vehicle sign. This is dramatically speed up the moisture elimination.

4. Open side windows.

And lastly, make sure that you open your side windows, even by an inch or two. Thing might not be pleasant to your other passenger, but it won’t take long. With this trick, you’re basically letting in cooler air with less moisture in your car which ‘pushes’ out the warmer moisture-rich air out of the car. Very much like when you turn off air recirculation.

Can I avoid foggy car windows?

Avoiding foggy car windows is possible, and it’s not rocket science. The first think you should do is to properly prepare your car windows. Auto Glass specialists recommend using a higher-quality cleaner that has NO ammonia and a microfiber towel. Remember, microfiber cloths or fibers also prevent windshield stratches.

The second step is to remove any excess grease or oil works from your car windows. You can do this by using an alcohol-based surface cleaner. This will clean up the surface nicely and prepare it for the second stage.

The last step is to apply anti-fog product on the inner part of your windshield or car windows. Just spray it on the micro-suede applicator and that should do the job. After that, continue with whipping the windshield with this solution. You first start with vertical strokes and after that you do with horizontal strokes. The solution would take about 2-5 minutes to dry up. Wait it out and just polish it with a clean and dry microfiber cloth.

However, if you need help with this, we at Auto Glass Express can do this process for you. And if you need tips on windshield maintenance, make sure to reach out!

The post Easily Defog your Car Windows appeared first on Auto Glass Express: Windshield Replacement & Repair | Auto Glass.

source https://autoglassexpress.com/easily-defog-your-car-windows/

Bet You Didn’t Know These Things About Your Windshield

As you probably know, the windshield of your car is pretty important. It protects you and your passengers from the outside world and also allows you to have a clear view out. And we cannot emphasize enough the ‘protection’ part. That’s why it’s important to fix / repair any chips and crack on your windshield and if necessary, to replace the windshield entirely.

Windshields keep the wind out of your hair and the bugs out of your mouths, and they do that quite well, but the protection reaches further than that.

What are windshields made from?

To put it plainly, a windshield is made from tempered glass. Tempered glass is actually a specially designed form of glass that breaks into many smaller pieces. Tempered glass is usually two pieces of glass that have a piece of plastic between them. Unlike traditional glass, which usually breaks into a few larger pieces and those pieces can cause serious injuries. On the other hand, the tiny pieces of tempered glass (if it breaks of course) are far less likely to cause any life-threatening injuries. It makes sense, right?

Roof support

You might think that the only thing support your car’s roof are the pillars (A, B, C and sometimes even D). Well thing again. Your windshield provides a huge part in support your car’s roof. Windshields actually prevent the car roof to collapse in case you’re in a rollover accident. Without the windshield, every rollover accident would cause the roof to collapse, seriously injuring you and your passengers…or worse. So windshields actually play a key part in your car’s structural integrity and it needs to be in good condition.

Insurance coverage

Many people wonder whether their car insurance will cover the repairs / replacement if their windshield get broken. Well, that all depends on your insurance policy. Some policies do include windshield repairs / replacements so they will be covered, while others don’t. So you should pay extra attention when picking your insurance policy! Windshield repairs / replacements are actually one of the most common car insurance claims.

So when picking your insurance, make sure that you pick the right one and if it comes to repairing / replacing your windshield, pick an auto glass repair shop that is approved by your insurance.

The post Bet You Didn’t Know These Things About Your Windshield appeared first on Auto Glass Express: Windshield Replacement & Repair | Auto Glass.

source https://autoglassexpress.com/bet-you-didnt-know-these-things-about-your-windshield/

5 Foolproof Windshield Maintenance Tips

We depend on cars more than ever. And just like with your house, your car will also require regular maintenance. An unfortunately reality you cannot escape.

Some car repairs can be postponed, but not all of them. Especially when they are related to your car’s windshield.

A minor crack on your windshield could appear to be just that – a minor crack. However, minor cracks can quickly turn into a major safety risk, not just for your but for the other passengers in your car. Depending on the size of the crack, the windshield’s integrity could become seriously compromised and that’s not something to play with. Because of this, we at Auto Glass Express recommend that you tend to any auto glass damages as soon as possible.

A damage to your windshield should be an easy fix to a reputable glass technician.

And in order to avoid paying frequent visits to a glass technician, we compiled a list of 5 foolproof maintenance tips that will help you keep your windshield in top form.

Stone and Gravel

Consider taking a different route if your usually commute takes you through places where there are construction zones or gravel roads. Other vehicles in front of you tend to kick up gravel and rocks and these are the #1 causes of windshield damage. Of course you cannot avoid every single rock, but you can significantly minimize the risk if you take a route on a new, well-maintained road.

Stay away from hail storms

It’s not surprising that glass technicians receive more calls about damaged windshields after a hail storm. Hail shouldn’t be taken lightly, even if it’s far less destructive than other natural disasters. It’s absolutely impossible to predict the size of the hail stone. It can be pea-size in one minute and a size of a large marble in the next. If the weather forecast says that there’s a likelihood of a hail storm, if you can, don’t risk driving on the road. Find shelter somewhere and wait for it to pass. You’ll be doing yourself a huge favor!

Windshield wipers should be in good condition

Properly maintained windshield wipers are a must and they are helpful. However, if your wipers are old and tattered, cay can cause major problems on your auto glass. If you don’t maintain and replace your wipers, they tend to collect debris which in the end scratches your front and rear glass. So check your wipers regularly to ensure they are not broken and functioning properly.

Avoid unsafe areas

Even though this should come as common sense, but we can’t emphasize it enough. We highly recommend that you avoid areas of your town which are known for break-ins or vandalism. We understand that you can’t avoid every questionable area and that break-ins occur even in good neighborhoods, but we strongly urge that you park only in well-lit lots and spaces. Furthermore, avoid leaving any valuables in your car, because they are the main reason cars are vandalized.

Immediate repairs

The list of reasons why you should get your auto glass repaired immediately goes on and on. As we mentioned before, a small crack might seem small. But it can lead to major problems. If your windshield has a small crack and you hit a pothole or get into a fender bender, you risk your windshield shattering. And if you live in an area where weather can be quite unpredictable, water can enter the crack and if it freezes over night, it can further expand the crack and make things even worse.

It’s impossible to avoid every rock or potential hazard on the road. But as a driver, you should do your part in making roads safer. So if you notice any minor scratches or cracks on your windshield, contact us and come in for an inspection.

The post 5 Foolproof Windshield Maintenance Tips appeared first on Auto Glass Express: Windshield Replacement & Repair | Auto Glass.

source https://autoglassexpress.com/5-foolproof-windshield-maintenance-tips/

Advanced Driver-Assistance System Windshield Calibration

Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems Windshield Calibration

Our cars are becoming more advanced every day, rapidly transforming how we drive as auto technology continues to change; the effect on auto glass installation will be extraordinary. Consumer demand is changing legislation, and the momentum from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is driving growth in advanced driver assistance systems or ADAS like never before.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administrations (NHTSA) new five-star safety rating system, now includes forward-collision warning and automatic emergency braking. Technologies like lane assist, lane departure warnings, pedestrian detection, forward collision alerts, and adaptive cruise control are becoming more common, making drivers more aware and keeping us all safer.

So what do all of these technologies have in common? They all require cameras, lasers, and radar systems to work together to function correctly, needing certified auto glass professionals, like Auto Glass Express, to ensure that they are correctly calibrated. These technologies present a challenge to numerous auto glass installers and windshield replacement shops in the Phoenix, as many of these cameras and sensors are mounted to the windshield. Many installers are unaware of the need for calibration, haven’t been certified or undergone proper training, and have been struggling with how to handle these complex installations. This causes a lot of concerns for drivers, and it’s something that any driver with a car newer than 2011 should look into when having their windshield repaired or replaced in Phoenix.

ADAS Windshield Camera Calibration in Phoenix

But now, there is a solution. Auto Glass Express! Our certified ADAS windshield calibration technicians are dispatched throughout the Phoenix area to ensure that our clients receive proper installations and calibrations anywhere in the valley. At work, at home or in our shop, our customers can drive safely with an ease of mind knowing that their windshields, cameras, and driver assistance technologies are properly installed and re-calibrated when they choose Auto Glass Express for their windshield replacement.

Auto Glass Express is one of the industry’s first Auto Glass Shops in Arizona to use the proper tools and technologies to perform the required camera calibrations. Once a windshield has been replaced. Camera calibration is a complex process that’s different for every vehicle, but Auto Glass Express simplifies it once our technicians install the windshield, our advanced tools connect to the car. The tool initiates the camera aiming process and works with the vehicle to optimize the camera’s alignment and restore the ADAS features to the OEM (Original Equipment Manufactures) specification. Whether it’s a static calibration that is precisely measured and aimed at a target within our shop, or a dynamic calibration where the process uses lane markers to align the camera. Auto Glass Express technicians and our calibration equipment enable even the most complex calibration with pinpoint accuracy. Auto Glass Express helps drivers stay current with the emerging driver assistance technology, keeping Phoenix drivers safe and back on the road.

Auto Glass Express services and provides windshield replacements, repairs, and re-calibrations for any vehicle, regardless of year, make or model. From an RV to a Tesla, you can count on Auto Glass Express and our certified technicians to keep you driving safely with a clear view on the road.

Call us now or request a quote online to have your windshield replaced today!

The post Advanced Driver-Assistance System Windshield Calibration appeared first on Auto Glass Express: Windshield Replacement & Repair | Auto Glass.

source https://autoglassexpress.com/advanced-driver-assistance-system-windshield-calibration/