GREAT FALLS — With some of the lowest temperatures of the season underway, drivers will be cranking up the heat in their vehicles.
When temperatures are this low, the risk of a broken windshield is high.
Glass Doctor’s Dave Disbrow said the change between the subfreezing temperatures and the heat from your car’s heating unit can cause the glass to crack.
"If you let your car warm up first, even if you put it on low frost, that’s hot air hitting a cold windshield. If you get a raw chip in it, you get into a glass shop immediately and get it fixed, it will save your windshield from cracking. Raw chip repair will cost you $59, windshield replacement is generally anywhere from $240 up to $1,000"
Most people with a cracked windshield try to wait out the winter.
"Windshields do break this time of year, but most people try to wait till springtime to get them replaced."
Disbrow said repairs should be done sooner rather than later to prevent any further damage.
"Anytime you have a cracked windshield the vehicle is basically unsafe to drive. Everyone does it but with a cracked windshield there’s more risk of getting injured in a wreck."
There’s no wrong time to replace a windshield. You can get your windshield replaced at any time.
"We can do it anytime, any temperature."
