You probably know that your windshield may crack if it's struck by a pebble or if you are involved in a car crash. Unfortunately, physical impact is not the only thing that can damage your windshield; there are other causes of windshield damage that include these four:
Temperature Fluctuations
Most solids expand when heated and contract when cooled, windshield glass included. Every time the glass expands or contracts, it realizes some damage that it doesn't fully recover even after the temperature has fallen or risen to a reasonable level. At the same time, every solid has a finite number of times it can contract and expand before it gets permanently damaged.
The best way to prevent temperature fluctuation from damaging your windshield is to park the car in an area with controlled temperature. This is especially necessary during those seasons when the days are hot and the nights are extremely hot.
Poor Installation
An incorrectly installed windshield is more likely to fail as compared to a properly installed one. For example, if a windshield doesn't fit in its slot as well as it should, it will be vibrating or bouncing up and down as the car moves. Such movements can easily cause your windshield to crack. Of course, you don't have to worry about damage related to poor installation if you have a skilled and experienced mechanic handle the installation.
Installing a Low-Quality Glass
Even if the windshield is installed by the most experienced mechanic, it will not have a long life if it is of low quality. This is especially possible with aftermarket glasses from unknown manufacturers whose products may not even be certified. Low-quality glasses may feature internal stress defects that may not be visible to the naked eye but will cause the glass's premature failure. The good news is that most glasses, even aftermarket ones, are of good quality and it is not difficult to get a good one; just talk to your mechanic to help you choose the right replacement glass.
Rapid Pressure Changes
Lastly, your windshield may also crack due to sudden pressure changes. Such a pressure change may occur, for instance, if there is a sudden gush of wind (think of a hurricane) that reduces the pressure on one side of the glass. It may also occur if there is an explosion (such as those common in quarries) that pushes a blast of wind onto the windshield.
Contact a company, like Harr's Auto Glass, for more help.
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