The Dangers Of Not Repairing A Chipped Windshield

A rock gets kicked up and smacks your windshield as you are driving down the freeway. Thankfully, it’s small and down out of your line of view. No big deal, right? Actually, something this small can turn out to be quite dangerous. That little chip in your windshield may grow into a large fracture and spread rapidly, putting your windshield’s integrity at risk as well as endangering the safety of you and your passengers. Let’s take a look at why.

Auto Glass Repair in Charlotte, NC.

Windshields are designed with stress in mind

Windshields are typically made of two layers of glass with a plastic layer in between.    They are designed to handle the constant stress of wind pressure and the weight of your car as you drive. Windshields are also designed to handle the expansion and contraction that naturally occur with extreme temperature fluctuations, like when you turn on your A/C on a hot day or blast the heat in freezing temperatures. Finally, your windshield not only contributes to the structural integrity of your car but also aids in the proper deployment of airbags in the event of an accident.

How strong is a windshield?

How chips and cracks severely damage the integrity of your windshield

When a chip occurs, the impact breaks the top layer of glass. This creates a small opening between that top layer of glass and the plastic layer. Not only does this opening allow moisture and small debris to get under that top layer of glass, causing further damage, but the small opening creates a weak spot in the windshield. Over time, the stressors and pressure that the windshield is made to withstand will actually cause more damage, making that weak spot more susceptible to spreading and becoming a large fracture.

As the windshield naturally contracts and expands to wind pressure and temperature changes, any moisture or debris underneath that top glass layer causes more focused pressure on the windshield, making it even weaker.

If your windshield is cracked, it can no longer properly protect you in the event of a collision. A damaged windshield is more likely to break completely if you get into an accident or if something hits it again, especially If the chip in your windshield has developed further into a larger fracture. This puts you and your passengers at risk for serious injury.

What are the different types of windshield cracks?

When to fix your chipped windshield

Repairing a chipped windshield is usually pretty inexpensive and only takes a short amount of time. However, if you wait too long and the chip turns into a crack, repairing your windshield will be much more expensive and time-consuming as the damage will be much harder to fix.

Ideally, you should get your windshield repaired as soon as possible after the chip occurs. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that the chip will develop into a larger crack.  If you take care of it early on, most repair shops can quickly and easily fix the chip without having to replace your entire windshield.

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