How do you Stop a Crack in your Windshield from Spreading?
How do you stop a crack in your windshield from spreading?
People often ask this question when they have a small crack in their windshield and wonder if there is anything they can do to stop it from getting bigger. Because windshields are made out of safety glass, which shatters into tiny pieces rather than large shards, the only way that a crack could spread across your windshield would be because you hit something uneven or bumpy in the road at high speeds, causing the crack to stretch. That means that if you want to avoid cracking your windshield from spreading across it, drive carefully! The best way to avoid having cracks on your windshield is by not hitting any objects while you're driving. However, if you already have a little crack or chip on your windshield then there are some things you might be able to do to stop it from getting bigger. ##Can I fix a little crack in my windshield?
Upper Grand Lagoon Windshield Shop
The first step you should take if there is a small crack on your windshield is to have it inspected by an auto glass professional. Sometimes the cracks are so small that they won't spread, but sometimes there is an underlying issue that makes them grow faster. For example, some of these issues include the following:
• Shattered windshields
• Imperfections in the sealant between panes of glass
• Poor installation and/or mounting of the windshield itself • Uneven or misplaced stress caused by unevenly or improperly mounted parts around your windshield So if the problem isn't the crack itself, but rather some other issue that is causing it to get bigger, you might be able to fix your problem by visiting your local auto glass shop. They can take a good look at the crack and determine if there's an underlying cause of the growing crack.
However, if all signs point towards the fact that there is no underlying cause for your crack besides its tiny size, then unfortunately there are no fixes available for filling in small cracks in your windshield with anything to stop them from getting worse.
Since the crack is so small, the windshield will be able to flex and work its way around it.
What if there is no underlying cause for the crack in my windshield?
Sometimes cracks get bigger because of how they develop on your windshield. They can pop up very suddenly and grow across your entire windscreen at once, or you might only see a little bit of it out of one corner before it starts to spread across your windshield. This means that even though you're not hitting any bumps in the road, and there's no other evidence pointing towards an underlying cause for this crack besides its size, it still might grow and get worse over time. If you want to prevent it from getting worse, here are some things you can do.
• Monitor the crack - You can avoid hitting it with anything that could further scratch or damage your windshield, but beyond that there's not much else you can do.
• Keep dirt and debris off of it - Sometimes small cracks are caused by bits of debris getting trapped between your windshield and hood during driving, so be sure to clean it off every now and then if you want to slow down its growth over time.
Would a rock chip repair kit help?
No. A rock chip repair kit is only meant to fix one specific size crack: smaller than an inch across. So for those tiny scratches or chips on your windshield, definitely check out our guide on how to fix those here. However, if you do have a larger crack that has spread across most of your windshield, then unfortunately there's nothing that can fix it besides getting the windshield replaced.
What about using rubbing alcohol?
Since there are no fillers in rubbing alcohol, don't expect it to stop the crack from growing by filling it in.
All it will do is clean off any dirt or debris around the crack so you can keep track of its growth better. If you want to know how long it takes for cracks on glass to grow an inch, check out our guide here. However, this doesn't mean that you should buy into all of those advertisements claiming that anything but highly specialized chemicals will be able to stop cracks from spreading - because they won't.
And Lastly, the best method to fix your windshield is to take it into an auto glass repair shop. They can not only give you some advice on what to do about the crack, but they might be able to fill in the crack with a resin that will stop it from growing further.
Source(s): http://www.ehow.com/list_7352832_methods-stopping-crack-spreading_.html http://www.wikihow.com/Stop-a-Crack-in-Your-Windshield
Upper Grand Lagoon, FL