Car experts reveal bad habit to avoid when clearing frozen windscreen that can cause windows to crack
CAR experts have revealed a bad habit to avoid when clearing a frozen windscreen which could even cause the glass to crack.
Specialists at Halfords issued a warning to drivers over a key error as the weather turns colder.
With temperatures trending downwards, many Brits are likely waking up to find their motor’s windshield frosted over.
A range of hacks have spread across social media as drivers try desperately to find a quick de-icing fix.
However, the team at Halfords urged motorists to take a cautious approach.
Their research found that more than 20% of Brits have opted to use a particular trick which could actually do more harm than good.
It’s been heavily promoted online and it may seem like a good idea, but using boiling water to clear the ice comes with serious risk.
The logic obviously goes that the hot water will melt the ice, but it doesn’t take into account the effect of rapidly heating near-freezing glass.
The key problem is that when it is heated, the glass expands rapidly, with the central point where the water was poured doing so faster than other parts of the pane.
This causes an effect called thermal shock, with the stress placed on the glass causing it to crack or even shatter.
And it could be a costly mistake, with a quote to fix a crack from Autoglass clocking in at around £225.
Even worse, a full replacement could set you back as much as £1,650 depending on the make and model of your car, according to Check A Trade.
Instead, the experts shared some top tips for de-icing your windows safely and effectively.
They urged drivers to use a quality ice scraper, available for as little as £1, to do the grunt work, while also making proper use of the windscreen heating function in most modern cars.
A car dehumidifier and a good mix of antifreeze in your washer fluid are good preventative measures to stop the ice forming in the first place too.
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