Windscreen Wiper Maintenance
Windscreen Wiper Maintenance
Windshield wipers are an often overlooked but, critical safety feature in order to keep you safe on the road. If ignored, a dull wiper blade can cause major issues if the weather suddenly changes . As we know any visual disruption when we are driving is a hazard. Mylson have put together a few top tips to maintain your windshield wipers, ensuring that they are always in great working order.
Frozen wipers
As temperatures start to drop, ensure that your assess your wiper blades before entering the car. If the blades are frozen and stuck to the windshield and the wipers are activated this can cause them to snap. To avoid this happening turn on the defroster and scrape away any excess ice or snow, and allow the car time to warm up. Always leave extra time in colder months to maintain the car, as allowing time to warm up may put another 10 minutes on to your morning commute. One thing that can be done to prevent this altogether is to pull your wiper blades away from the glass, as this will stop them sticking.
Replacing the blades
You will notice a decline in the performance of your wiper blades after about 6 months. The visibility will start to reduce and you may start to hear an annoying squeak across the screen. In order to prevent this from happening change them twice a year. Blades are only designed to last approximately 6 months.
Cleaning your windshield
As we travel, our windshields can become littered with debris. When the wiper arm arcs across our screen the sensitive blades can become marked and eroded. Regular cleaning of the windshield will help to increase the longevity of the blades. Ideally this should be done weekly or can be done when you visit the petrol station. They usually have buckets and squeegees for this purpose. Just be careful to check the cleanliness of the water and equipment and you wouldn’t want to be causing further problems.
Using windscreen washer fluid
As its not always rain that disrupts our windshield vision, it is important to know how, and when, to activate your wipers. A build up of dirt and pollen can really hinder our view, but don’t ever be tempted to just flick those wipers on. Using your wipers on a dry surface will not only cause them to wear more quickly, but can also cause them to break. In these situations just press the washer button first. This will mean that you have to keep an eye on your washer fluid levels, which is all part of your basic car maintenance.