Why You Should Repair Windshield Chips Before the First Freeze

WIth summer winding down in Minnesota, it means cooler mornings, changing leaves, and before we know it, we’ll be seeing the first frost of the season. If your windshield picked up a chip or small crack during summer road trips or construction season, now is the time to get it checked. Once freezing temperatures arrive, that minor damage can quickly turn into a much bigger problem.

Apollo Glass helps drivers take care of windshield chips and cracks before they get worse. Here’s why scheduling auto glass repair this fall can save you trouble down the road.

Cold Temperatures Can Make Windshield Damage Spread

Glass naturally expands and contracts as temperatures change. When your windshield already has a chip or crack, the stress caused by rapidly changing temperatures can cause that damaged area to spread.

Minnesota fall weather can be especially tough on auto glass because temperatures may be mild during the day and drop significantly overnight. Add the first hard freeze, and the small chip you’ve been ignoring may not stay small for long.

A Chip May Be Repairable Now, But Not Later 

One of the biggest reasons to address windshield damage early is that a small chip may be repairable without replacing the entire windshield. Once the damage spreads or becomes more severe, windshield replacement may become necessary.

Getting the damage evaluated sooner can help determine whether windshield repair or replacement is the safest option for your vehicle.

Winter Adds Even More Stress to Your Windshield

Cold temperatures aren’t the only concern. Winter brings ice, snow, road debris, and plenty of windshield scraping. Even turning on a hot defroster when the windshield is extremely cold creates a rapid temperature change that can put additional stress on already-damaged glass.

Repairing chips before winter gives your windshield a better chance of handling everything a Minnesota winter throws at it.

Don’t Forget About ADAS Calibration

If the damage has progressed to the point where your windshield needs to be replaced, newer vehicles may also require ADAS calibration.

Many Advanced Driver Assistance Systems use cameras and sensors mounted near or behind the windshield to support features such as lane departure warnings, forward collision alerts, and automatic emergency braking. After a windshield replacement, these systems may need to be recalibrated to ensure they’re functioning as intended.

Apollo Glass offers professional ADAS calibration along with windshield replacement, making it easier to take care of your auto glass and vehicle safety systems in one place.

Make Windshield Repair Part of Your Fall Vehicle Checklist

Before the first Minnesota freeze arrives (which will happen sooner than we realize!), take a few minutes to inspect your windshield. Look for small chips, cracks, or other damage that may have appeared over the summer. If you spot something, don’t wait until winter to see whether it gets worse.

Apollo Glass offers windshield chip repair, auto glass replacement, mobile auto glass service, and ADAS calibration for drivers in Buffalo, MN and throughout the western Twin Cities area. We can also work with your insurance company to help simplify the claims process and get you back on the road with less hassle.

That little chip may not seem urgent today, but Minnesota winter has a way of changing things quickly. Contact Apollo Glass to have your windshield taken care of before the first freeze.