Everything You've Always Wanted to Know About Auto Glass in Cold Climates
7 January 2000
FEATURE/Winter, Wind Chills and Windshields: Harmon AutoGlass Reveals Everything You've Always Wanted to Know About Auto Glass in Cold Climates But Were Afraid to Ask
MINNEAPOLIS--Jan. 6, 2000--Batteries. Jumper cables. Snow tires. Some car parts get all the attention during the winter months - while your windshield quietly keeps you safe from the brunt of winter's brutality.But winter is not the time to take your auto glass for granted. Yes, auto glass. Snow, ice and bitter cold are tough on glass, and the folks at Harmon - a national leader in the automotive glass replacement and repair industry - have developed the following tips for helping you and your auto glass make it through to spring.
| -- | Tip 1: We've got rocky road - and we ain't talking ice cream. To combat slick roads, many municipalities apply sand and even small pebbles to increase traction for drivers. Trouble is, these small rocks and pebbles can get kicked up by motorists' tires and hit your windshield. Harmon encourages drivers to be especially alert in the winter months for small divots and cracks and to have them fixed before they become more serious. And keep well behind sanding and salting trucks - to watch out for your windshield and help road crews breathe a little easier. |
| -- | Tip 2: Hot water might get you in hot water. On occasion, frustrated drivers will attempt to clear their ice-coated windshields with boiling water or other hot fluids (or, perhaps, we shudder to imagine, blowtorches). Admirable substance that it is, glass simply isn't able to handle that kind of sudden temperature shift. Instead of a clear windshield, you're liable to get a cracked windshield. Harmon recommends using boiling water for, say, a nice cup of cocoa instead. |
| -- | Tip 3: The temperatures, they are a-changin'. While it's always a good idea to catch a windshield crack early, it's especially true in cold weather. In winter, your auto glass goes from cold to warm and back again each time you heat up your car and shut it down. This constant shifting in temperature expands and contracts your auto glass and often can speed up the rate at which small cracks become large ones. Harmon recommends that drivers attend to damaged windshields promptly to stop a small problem from becoming a larger one. |
| -- | Tip 4: Keys are not key to a clear windshield. Neither are metal scrapers, coins or other metallic objects. Motorists sometimes resort to these tools to scrape ice and snow from their windshields, but metal edges can actually damage your windshield by leaving scratches so deep that they can't be buffed out easily. Harmon recommends that you stick with plastic scrapers, which are inexpensive, easy to find and glass-friendly. |
| -- | Tip 5: Take your time. Motorists in a hurry sometimes are tempted to clear just enough snow and ice from their windshields to give them a few square inches of visibility to the outside. The need for a clear road view is never more critical than in the winter, when roads are slick and braking times are increased. Harmon reminds drivers to take the extra time needed to ensure that all auto windows - rear and side windows included - are completely free and clear of snow, ice and fog before starting out onto the roads. And avoid using windshield wipers to clear crusty ice and snow - it can damage your wiper's motor and blades. |
Harmon wishes all drivers a safe and happy New Year. For more information, visit Harmon AutoGlass online at harmonautoglass.com.
Founded in 1949, Apogee Enterprises is a leader in technologies involving the design and development of value-added glass products, services and systems. The Glass Services business segment of Apogee is comprised of Harmon AutoGlass, a national leader in the automotive glass replacement and repair industry; the Harmon Solutions Group, which provides claims processing and policy management services for insurance companies, banks and self-insured corporations; Harmon, Inc., the nation's largest chain of building glass installation and repair shops; Glass Depot, a major auto glass distributor; and Viracon/Curvlite, a windshield manufacturer. In the fiscal year ended February 27, 1999, Apogee reported consolidated sales of $793 million. In 1998, Fortune magazine selected Apogee Enterprises as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work for in America."
