What Causes Windshields to Crack? 6 Causes You Should Know About
Windshield cracks are always an unwelcome surprise. As you drive down the highway, even a seemingly insignificant pebble can wreak havoc on your windshield, leaving an unsightly and dangerous crack. It's disheartening and unavoidable, but have you ever wondered what causes windshields to crack, break, or chip?
Learn more about what causes windshield cracks and how to protect your vehicle’s first line of defense.
Understanding Windshield Cracks
If you've ever driven down the road and heard that dreaded “ping,” you know what's coming next—a windshield crack. But what causes windshield cracks?
Various factors might be to blame, including the following:
Impact from rocks or debris
Weather exposure
Temperature changes
Stress and pressure
Poor installation
Manufacturing defects
We’ll examine these factors in more detail later.
Types of Windshield Cracks
Windshield cracks vary by characteristics and origin. Some common types include:
Chips
Bullseye breaks caused by circular objects
Star breaks from point impacts
Combination breaks
Half-moon or partial bullseye damages
These types can occur for various reasons ranging from foreign objects like rocks to conditions causing stress on the glass structure. The importance of windshield repair can’t be overstated because even minor damage can spread over time into significant safety concerns.
Why Windshields Crack Easily
You may wonder why windshields seem more prone to cracking than other auto glass. Windshields are manufactured with tempered glass designed for passenger safety, but this also makes them susceptible to damage, even under slight impacts or pressure changes. While engineered to absorb and distribute impact forces during an accident, their design makes them more prone to cracks under stress.
Why Windshield Cracks Spread
Windshield cracks spread for various reasons, including stress, vibration and movement, multiple impacts, time, temperature changes, and inadequate repairs. The process starts with a chip or break. As stress occurs through bumps in the road or temperature shifts between hot days and cool nights, the crack spreads across the surface, becoming larger over time—a phenomenon known as crack propagation.
The spread makes windshield repair crucial, ideally at the early stages, before turning into extensive damage requiring complete replacement.
6 Common Causes of Windshield Cracks
Your car's windshield is the unsung hero of your vehicle, facing road debris and flying rocks, weather conditions like tree branches and hail, and even impact damage from unfortunate car accidents. These external factors are the leading causes of those pesky cracks on your windshield.
1. Rocks and Road Debris
Roads can be a veritable minefield for your windshields. A pebble or tiny rock may seem harmless, but when propelled at high speeds by another vehicle’s tires, they turn into mini projectiles capable of causing significant harm. In fact, road debris and rocks are the most common causes of front windshield damage.
2. Weather Conditions
Mother Nature doesn’t always play nice, either. Severe weather conditions pose another threat: Tree branches brought down by high winds or sudden weather shifts resulting in contraction or expansion stress leave their mark. The real terror, however, comes in small icy packages known as hailstones. Depending upon their size (some reaching up to 6 inches), they cause considerable havoc, raining down on rooftops and leaving pockmarks across unprotected windshields.
3. Temperature Changes
Sudden temperature changes cause materials like glass to expand or contract quickly, leading to stress fractures. This is similar to pouring hot water into an ice-cold glass—sudden change causes breakage. Turning on your defrost vent full blast during freezing weather could trigger this effect in cars.
4. Stress Cracks and Structural Integrity
Your vehicle's structural integrity plays a vital role in maintaining the health of your windshield. As windshields age and become exposed to environmental conditions, the glass becomes weaker and increasingly prone to stress cracks. Stress cracks may appear without any impact due to fluctuations in temperature, vibrations, or pressure inside the car. They often start at the edge of the windshield and work their way toward the center.
5. Poor Installation
Beyond environmental factors, manufacturing defects or poor installation practices can lead directly to cracking. If a previous replacement was done incorrectly—maybe there were mistakes with sealant application—it can result in uneven pressure distribution across your windshield's surface.
6. Manufacturing Defects
Inferior quality control during manufacturing might also introduce weaknesses in windshields before they reach our vehicle’s frame. Under normal driving conditions, the tiniest imperfection could evolve into serious damage over time.
What to Do If Your Windshield Is Cracked
If your windshield is cracked, it’s essential to take quick action to ensure your safety on the road and prevent the crack from spreading:
Assess the Damage: Carefully examine the crack to determine its size, type, location, and severity. Extensive cracks can impair your line of sight while driving, so it’s important to note whether you can drive safely with the damage.
Protect the Crack: Until you can repair the crack, use protective tape or a windshield repair kit to prevent dirt and moisture from getting into the glass. Don’t attempt to repair the crack yourself, as improper repairs can compromise the integrity of your windshield.
Check Your Insurance: Your insurance policy may cover windshield repair and replacement. Examine your policy to understand your coverage and determine potential deductibles.
Contact a Professional: A professional auto glass technician can assess the extent of the damage and recommend appropriate action. Repairs are more effective when carried out quickly, so schedule a repair at your earliest convenience.
If you notice an unexpected crack developing on your windshield, don’t worry because you're not alone. Let professionals like Auto Glass Now assess the damage.
Address Windshield Cracks with Auto Glass Now
Ensuring your windshield is in top-notch condition creates a safer driving experience. Remember, early detection of any issue lets you take action before it develops into more costly repairs—or worse—accidents. Knowing what causes a windshield to crack is the first step in addressing the issue.
Do you need professional help? Trust Auto Glass Now's expertise for reliable windshield repair and replacement services for all your car windows using high-quality materials. Our experts have many years of experience providing swift and dependable service, ensuring your car is road-ready.
Get your windshield professionally repaired at an Auto Glass Now location, or contact a mobile windshield repair team near you!