Toyota Prius Broken Back Glass. Before and After.
How to keep the inside of your windshield clean
A windshield that’s foggy on the inside is frustrating– especially when it becomes foggy while you’re driving, or right before your morning commute. If your defrost setting doesn’t work quickly to clear up the fog, driving can become hazardous because of your reduced vision.
In this situation, you might be tempted to reach out and wipe away the condensation with your hand– but if you do, you’ll surely regret it, since touching the glass with your bare hand will most likely leave oils behind on the glass. The next time you’re driving at night, or even the next time your windshield fogs up, you’ll see those fingerprints and wish you hadn’t done it!
Why does the inside of my windshield get dirty?
Aside from oily fingerprints on the inside of your windshield glass, the glass can get dirty in other ways, as well.
This is a particularly important problem to address, because any buildup on the windshield reduces your vision and can even become a hazard while driving.
One way your windshield glass can get dirty: residue from smoking cigarettes.
Have you ever seen a house that someone smoked in for many years? Chances are good that the walls and ceilings in that house were covered in a yellow or brown residue from years of cigarette smoke.
This same phenomenon happens in your car, as well. There are plenty of reasons why you shouldn’t smoke, but smoking in an enclosed space like your car is particularly harmful– for you, your passengers, and for your car itself.
Even if you don’t smoke, your windshield can still get dirty over time. You’ve probably noticed that your car’s dashboard can get pretty dusty every so often; that dust is in the air in the rest of your car as well.
Combined with humidity in the air and condensation, the dust can create a film on the inside of your windshield, which makes the windshield look foggy even when it’s not!
What can I do to keep the inside of my windshield clean?
Cleaning the inside of your windshield is a little trickier than washing the rest of your car, because you really need to make sure that there aren’t any smudges or missed spots that might obstruct your vision or just distract you while driving.
Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks that’ll help you keep the inside of your windshield sparkling clean all year round.
Microfiber cloth
Using a microfiber cloth to clean the inside of your windshield will give you better results than any other type of wipe or cloth.
The reason why microfiber cloths work best is simply because the fibers are tiny enough to trap dust, bacteria, and anything else that might be missed by a paper towel or similar cleaning product.
Cleaning car’s windshield with microfiber cloth from the inside.
Wait for a cloudy day
Typically, using your favorite brand of glass cleaner along with a microfiber cloth on the inside of your windshield will do the trick, wiping away all of the dust and haze that’s accumulated on the glass.
However, if you follow this one extra trick, your glass will end up looking better.
Just wait for a cloudy day to clean your windshield (or do it at night, or at least when your car’s completely in the shade).
The reason for this? Direct sunlight beaming down on your windshield can cause the glass cleaner to dry before you’re finished cleaning, which can result in smudges, smears, and streaks on the glass.
Call in the windshield experts
For windshield smudges and haze, you can easily address the problem yourself by following the tips above. But for windshield chips, cracks, and other damage, it’s time to seek out the services of a qualified glass technician.
If you’ve got a windshield problem that needs to be addressed, give Chapman Auto Glass a call today!
Does Auto Glass Steering Affect You? – Learn How Here
Auto glass steering happens when you call the third-party administrator (TPA) who is hired by your insurance company and they either do not give you a choice or just assign you a shop to take care of your vehicle. Several different care tactics are used in order to convince you to use the shop they are recommending. The third-party administrator is an employee of the largest auto glass shop; not only in this country but in the world. By law, you have the right to choose whomever you want to work on your second-largest investment. Your car, your choice.
If you make your claim online, be sure to look for an opportunity to choose the shop you want. Speak with your dollars. Keep it local. If you use a locally owned and operated shop, you will be taken care of. Read our reviews and get to know the kind of service people have come to expect.
Is Broken Auto Glass Recycled?
Most environmentally conscious people try to recycle and repurpose as much as possible. When it comes to larger and less common items such as appliances, tires, building materials or automotive parts, it might not be immediately clear whether something can be recycled, or where.
Up until the last few years, recycling your broken windshield was impossible or not feasible. Some windshields were repurposed by grinding it and using it as a filler in certain aggregates and construction applications. But for the most part the windshields will end up in the landfills.
Today advancements in recycling have been made reusing windshield glass a reality although not common. These programs are not widely known or accessible, but with the right resources you can recycle windshield glass.
How Windshields Impact the Environment
Every item that is manufactured, consumed, and discarded has an environmental impact, and that includes windshields. A lot of energy, resources, and fuel are used to manufacture replacement windshields. Responsible windshield manufacturers are using a mix of recycled and newly sourced materials to make their windshields to reduce this impact. However, recycled windshield glass cannot be used to create new ones.
What Makes Auto Glass Recycling Different?
The glass used to make up your windshield is much different than the glass of containers and beverages that you encounter every day. Those types of glass are easily recyclable with little if any waste, and it is very cheap to process. Windshield glass, on the other hand, is made up of both recyclable and non recyclable materials, making it more difficult to recycle.
Your windshield glass is made up of two laminated layers of glass fused together with a layer of a plastic polymer called Poly Vinyl Butyral, or PVB, between. This is done to reduce the occurrence of cracks and breaks upon impact, particularly from pedestrians or head-on collisions. The polymer layer and other features of windshields must be removed during recycling.
You also can’t recycle your windshield the same way that you might other types of glass. Here in New Mexico, neighborhoods have curbside recycling programs. While these do allow for glass recycling, they do not allow for windshields. Y
Challenges in Recycling Windshields
The main challenge in recycling windshields is their makeup. In order to render the glass usable in another application, it has to be crushed and the non-glass components, like the interior Poly Vinyl Butyral layer, must be removed. It has only been in the last several years that cost-effective techniques for handling this separation have been developed in certain areas of the country.
The technology used to recycle windshields is still relatively new, and recycling centers and companies are woefully unprepared to deal with this new challenge. There are only a few companies recycling windshields at this time, and most of them are windshield manufacturers.
How Windshield Glass is Recycled and Reused
Auto glass is recycled in much the same way as other types of glass, with a few exceptions. Glass is recycled by crushing it and removing inclusions, which are non-glass materials. These materials in auto glass, particularly windshields, include:
- Polymer layer from lamination
- Heating elements for defrosting (usually on back windshields)
- Film from window tinting
- Protective glazing
In times past, if glass had too many inclusions other than paper labels, the glass would be discarded and sent to a landfill. This is still true of most glass recycling, because recycling plants are not equipped with the necessary technology to remove inclusions. This is also why few recycling centers take windshields.
Recycled auto glass is used in a number of ways. Most windshields are made with about 25% cullet, which may or may not come from recycled auto glass. Recycled glass can also be used in the following applications:
- Industrial materials
- Building and construction materials
- Road repair (when mixed with asphalt or aggregate)
What You Need to Know About Windshield Chips, Cracks, and Selling Your Car
Does a chipped or cracked windshield affect your car’s value? You’re ready to buy a new vehicle. But the windshield in your soon-to-be old car has what seems like a minor chip. Before you list your car or try to trade it in, take a look at what you need to know about auto glass, damage, and value.
Do You Plan to Sell or Trade in Your Car?
The decision whether to repair a chip may depend on whether you want to sell your car directly to a buyer or trade it in to an auto dealer towards a new vehicle. Used car buyers typically expect some level of wear and tear. Provided you don’t advertise the car as “like-new” or in “pristine condition,” it’s likely the would-be buyer is willing to trade a few minor spots of wear for the price of a used (versus new-from-the-dealer) auto.
Unlike a private buyer, a car dealership isn’t likely to accept a vehicle with damage at the full trade-in price. The dealer may also not distinguish between minor and more serious windshield issues. This means it’s possible the dealer will categorize a tiny chip and a long crack in the same type of damage category.
How Does the Buyer See the Car?
Knowing that, say you’ve chosen to sell your car to a private buyer instead of trading it in to the dealer. Along with scratches in the paint, dings, or other similar types of issues, show your buyer the windshield chip. Even though it’s possible the would-be buyer will look the other way, they may also use the damage to negotiate a lower price — especially if the window chip isn’t the only sign of wear and tear.
A higher mileage car that was kept in top condition is often a better deal for the buyer. While a small windshield chip may seem like a minor flaw to you, a buyer may view this wear as indicative of overall car maintenance. If the buyer wants a gently used car or cares more about upkeep than mileage or the model year, you may need to repair the chip or replace the windshield before you sell it. A new windshield could attract this type of buyer and help you to sell the car in less time.
How Much Will the Windshield Repair Cost?
Will the windshield repair cost more than what you could recoup on the sale of the car? The price to repair or replace a windshield differs by region and contractor. While you could save money with the cheapest auto glass installation quote possible, you should never sacrifice quality for the price. A poorly done job could look messy or leave the windshield in worse condition than it already is.
Before you decide one way or the other, consider:
- The price a dealer will give you. Do you plan to trade in your car? If so, ask the dealer how much the windshield will impact the price. If the difference is negligible, trade-in the car as-is.
- The need for a repair versus replacement. A repair may cost less than a full windshield replacement. If a reputable company can repair the chip at a reasonable cost, this option can help you to boost the sales price.
- The rest of the car’s wear and tear.Is your car in near-perfect condition — minus a windshield chip? The cost you’ll pay may not outweigh what you could make back in a barely-used car sale.
- Your insurance. If your auto insurance pays for the repair or replacement, you can benefit from this service before you sell the car.
If you’re not sure if you should repair or replace your windshield, call 505-228-5869 or contact us Chapman Auto Glass today!
Protect Your Car from Rising ‘Smash & Grab’ Crimes
‘Smash and grab’ theft has spiked recently in affluent areas across the country. But you can protect your vehicle and the valuables inside with an aftermarket car alarm. In areas all around the country police have been tracking an increase in theft from parked cars. Find out more about this threat and how you can prevent it from happening to you.
Broken Car Windows and Stolen Items
It doesn’t take long for someone to become a victim. Thieves quickly spot and snatch bags, electronics and other valuables from vehicles parked on the street, in parking lots and parking garages. These incidents usually involve the perpetrator using a blunt tool to break a car glass allowing them to reach in and remove items. ‘Smash and grab’ incidents happen in just a few seconds and are usually reported in sprees, within the same area and time frame. By smashing a window, the thieves are able to steal valuable possessions left in sight, even if the glass is tinted and the doors are locked.
How to Protect Your Car
Regular Precautions
To prevent break-ins, police in Pennsylvania advice against leaving anything of value inside the vehicle. Items that are considered easy targets for car theft include:
- Purses,
- Backpacks,
- Briefcases,
- Mobile phones,
- Laptops and tablets, and
- GPS navigation devices.
Drivers should also park in well-lit areas, close to the nearest building.
Anti-Theft Alarms Systems
Another precaution for smart car owners includes installing an anti-theft alarm system, but buyer beware. Not all systems can effectively prevent this type of car break-in. A few years back, Tesla owners complained of a security vulnerability. The Model 3 Tesla was the target of an increasing number of ‘smash and grab’ crimes. This was because the alarm system apparently didn’t sound when the glass of the rear quarter window was broken. Thieves were then able to reach in, fold down the rear seats, and steal items from the trunk. Tesla responded by installing enhanced anti-theft systems on the Model S and Model X. The advanced systems now alerts to any motion inside the locked car. Unfortunately, not all vehicle manufacturers and factory models offer this kind of comprehensive system. But car owners have a wide range of aftermarket alarm options which can help prevent them from becoming a victim of this type of crime. Factory, optional and aftermarket alarm systems have a computer-controlled unit which triggers the siren when necessary. Systems can use one or multiple types of sensors to understand that someone is trying to break into the vehicle.
Glass Break Sensors
This kind of sensor detects certain acoustic frequencies. The noise of shattering glass is picked up by highly sensitive microphones and activates the alarm system. It’s a popular way of protecting the car cabin which should also detect tampering and blows to the glass which don’t cause breakage.
Shock Sensors
A shock sensor helps prevent theft by detecting impact on the auto body, including the door panels. If a person hits the car body or delivers a blow to the glass, for example, the system will sense the intensity of the motion. Some models have a warning signal which sounds before the regular alarm is triggered.
Pressure Sensors
A pressure sensor detects changes in the air pressure changes within the vehicle. If a window is broken or the doors are forced open, this type of sensor will trigger an audible signal.
Motion Sensors
Other alarms can be more effective at preventing theft by detecting movement inside the cabin. Cadillac, for example, provides systems which detect motion using ultrasonic waves. This type of system effectively alerts owners to break-ins and ‘smash and grab’ theft.
Expert Car Glass Repair & Replacement
If you have been the victim of a car break-in or a ‘smash and grab’ incident, we can get you safely back on the road. Chapman Auto Glass has specialized in glass repair and replacement for over 20 years. We are your local windshield and car glass expert, servicing all car makes and models. Call Chapman Auto Glass at 505-228-5869 or take a moment to contact us online.