Cracked windshields can have many causes, from vandalism and collisions to strong weather events like hailstorms. Sometimes, a simple bad glass installation coupled with a sharp change in temperature can be enough to crack your glass.
If your area has recently been hit with a hailstorm or other extreme weather event and your windshield has a crack or chip, you may be tempted to leave it unrepaired. After all, it takes time and energy to fix, and it may not seem like such a big deal.
But, a damaged windshield can be more serious than you may think. Here’s three reasons why it’s better to get it repaired as soon as possible.
#1. Cracks Obstruct Your Vision
You may not think it’s that big of a deal if there’s one crack going across the length of your windshield, or one chip in the corner. If you’re still able to see the majority of the road, you may feel it doesn’t make that big of a difference.
In reality, even a small crack or chip in your windshield can obstruct your vision while driving — even if you think it won’t. Cracks and chips can distort the appearance of the road and make objects seem closer or further than they actually are. They may also cut off a few crucial centimeters of vision that would show you a small obstacle or sign.
#2. Windshield Cracks Affect Your Car’s Structural Integrity
Although it may seem like a flimsy piece of glass, the windshield is an important part of your car’s structure. In a front-end collision, the windshield can be the difference between life and death as it keeps the roof from caving in on you.
In fact, the windshield can provide up to 45% of the structural integrity of your car’s cabin in a front end collision, and 60% in the event that your car rolls over.
This means that a windshield that’s even moderately cracked or chipped can weaken this support drastically. And if your windshield is severely damaged, or has many small points of damage (like the damage from a strong hail storm), you may not have any support at all.
#3. Windshield Cracks Spread Over Time
Another reason to fix your windshield as soon as possible is that cracks and chips tend to spread over time.
Windshield damage spreads for a variety of reasons, including bumpy roads, flying debris, and strong winds. But, even if you kept your car in a garage all day, it’s very likely that your windshield damage would still continue to spread.
This is because glass expands and contracts when it’s exposed to fluctuations in temperature and barometric pressure. A sharp drop in temperature, the onset of a storm, or even just the changing seasons is enough to turn a small crack into a much bigger problem.
The best thing to do to avoid this problem is to nip it in the bud by getting your windshield repaired promptly.
Conclusion
Windshield damage is not something to be taken lightly. While it may seem like a minor issue, it can actually lead to some serious problems down the road.
If you have any cracks or chips in your windshield from hail storms or other incidents, make sure to get them repaired as soon as possible. Reach out to a reputable auto hail repair company nearby to get the issue solved quickly and effectively.
And, if you’re concerned about the cost of your windshield repair plus repair for auto body damage, check out this hail damage repair cost calculator.