Although Arizona winters are mild compared to other areas of the country, fogged windows is still a serious problem on those chilly winter mornings. The air inside your car is usually warm. When the cold night air makes contact with your car windows, condensation can collect on the windows, making it difficult to see when you first get in your car in the morning. Read more
There are many maintenance tasks you need to deal with when you own a car. One of those tasks you may encounter is the need to repair or replace your auto glass. Cracks or chips in your windshield or broken car windows can be a safety risk, as well as let the elements inside your car. If you find yourself facing the need for auto glass repair in Arizona, you need to know how to find the right company for the job. The following tips will help you select one.
Check Reviews
Reviews are a valuable resource, especially if you find them on unbiased third-party sites. Consider what their previous customers have to say about the company before you hire them for the work.
Choose a Local Company
Smaller local companies are typically preferred to larger national chains. As long as they are certified to perform auto glass repair in Arizona, you can rest assured they will get the job done well.
AGRSS Certification
There are many types of certification available in the industry. The one you want to look for as you choose a company for auto glass repair is AGRSS certification. These professionals are fully trained and experienced in providing this service safely and will follow the standards for your vehicle make and model.
Do They Accept Your Insurance?
If you intend to file a claim with your insurance policy, it’s essential to make sure the auto glass repair specialist you choose accepts your policy.
How Fast Can They Work?
When you have a broken windshield or other auto glass, it’s necessary to get it repaired as soon as possible. Driving around with a broken window can be a serious safety risk on the road, impeding your ability to see clearly, which can lead to an accident. This is why you need an expert in auto glass repair in Arizona that can get the work done quickly.
Do They Offer a Warranty?
You want to feel confident the auto glass repair you get done will last and won’t have any problems. Not all companies offer a warranty on their work, which leaves you in a bind if there’s a problem down the road. Therefore, it’s important to work with a company that can offer you the peace of mind a warranty can provide.
How Do They Stand Out?
When you need auto glass repair in Arizona, chances are you want it done as quickly as possible. The best way to do this is to choose a company that can provide mobile repairs. These professionals come to your location, regardless of where that may be, and get the work done in a timely manner.
How Quickly Do They Communicate?
If you have a cracked or chipped car window that needs repairs quickly, you want a company that will respond to you in a timely manner. How quickly can you get through to someone if you call the company? If you call outside business hours and leave a message, how quickly will they get back to you? This is all important to know if you’re going to be able to rely on the company to fix your auto glass and get your car back in good condition.
If you’re looking for reliable auto glass repair in Arizona, contact us to learn more.
Knowing what you need to do to take care of a windshield that has recently been replaced is the first step in maintaining your investment. Be sure to keep your new windshield in good condition and make sure it will last as long as possible by using the tips and information found here after installation.
These tips include:
For the first several hours after your windshield is replaced, you will be told these are the most critical. Be sure to protect the windshield by using these guidelines.
Replacing your windshield requires the use of adhesive, which is going to keep the glass in place and that helps to create a waterproof and strong seal around it. It is crucial to allow plenty of time for the adhesive to set and completely dry. To make sure the best results are achieved, it’s a good idea to wait to drive your vehicle for approximately an hour after the installation is complete. The people who are installing the new windshield are likely going to tell you this once the work is done.
When you initially get into your care, make sure you look for any glass shards that may have been left from the former windshield. Most technicians work to ensure that all the glass pieces are removed before the vehicle is returned; however, you can never be too careful.
In the initial 24 to 48 hours after the new windshield has been installed, there are several more precautions that you need to take.
When the seal has begun to dry, you don’t want to allow anything to push up against it or adhere to it. For the initial 24 hours after the installation is done, don’t put any cover over the outside of your vehicle. It’s also not a good idea to use a sunshade on the interior of the windshield and make sure the dash remains free of any clutter.
Too much air pressure may put additional stress on the seal that is around the glass and it will begin to dry. If you want to keep the pressure from causing a leak, then leave the window rolled down at least one inch. It is a good idea to do this about 24 hours after it is installed.
Retention tape is often used to hold the moldings of the windshield in place, and they provide a guarantee that the seal is fully protected from the elements while it is drying. While this may not look great, it’s a good idea to leave the tape in the proper position for several days after the glass has been installed.
To make sure no damage occurs, be sure that you avoid power washers and car washes. If the car must be washed, it’s best to use a hand wash.
Don’t put any unnecessary stress on this adhesive as it sets around the newly installed glass. Close the doors easily and don’t slam them.
Many drivers think they will be perfectly safe driving around with a crack or chip in their windshield, this often isn’t the case. Any obstruction in the windshield can result in unsafe driving conditions and could ultimately cause an accident. Because chips and cracks are susceptible to spread over time, especially when exposed to the extreme weather conditions typically found in Arizona, it’s essential to consider windshield replacement, especially if the situation can’t be resolved with an auto glass repair. While this is a simple process, many people wonder if they really need to replace their windshield at all. The following will help you determine if you do need a replacement and if so, how to proceed.
Do I Need a Replacement?
When you’re looking at a small chip or crack in your windshield, you may wonder whether you really need a full replacement after all. The answer to this question can be complex and typically requires a professional to inspect the damage. In many cases, a chip can easily be fixed if it is addressed before it becomes larger. However, a crack may be questionable. A smaller crack that doesn’t impede your view may be fixed if it is small enough. However, cracks have a tendency to spread and may often cover too much of the windshield to be repaired. In these situations, it’s best to fully replace your windshield so you have a fresh, clean start. The good news is these costs are often covered under your auto insurance policy so unless you have a deductible, you may not have to pay much, if anything, for these replacements.
Find the Right Professionals
While windshield replacement is actually a relatively easy process, it’s still essential to work with professionals who know how to get the job done right. You need to hire a company that has experienced technicians who have gone through the proper training to ensure they know how to fit a windshield into place to ensure it keeps out the elements and won’t be easily damaged in the future. Unfortunately, many car windshield replacements are done incorrectly, leading to an improper fit that can be dangerous if you are involved in a car accident of any type. An improperly fitted windshield can easily dislodge and cause serious injury. It’s also best to work with a company that provides original manufacturer windshields, rather than generic replacements. This will ensure the windshield fits better and is actually designed for your car. In addition to ensuring a better fit, these OEM windshields are of a higher quality, which means they are less likely to be damaged by a rock or other debris you may encounter along your drive.
Check with Your Insurance Company
Your auto insurance company may cover the cost of a replacement or repair you need for your windshield. If your insurance will be covering some or all of the cost of your windshield replacement, it’s essential to make sure you’re working with a company that is covered by your insurance. They will have a list of approved companies you can go to for a quote on the services to help you choose the right one. In some situations, however, when you take the deductible into account, you may be better off paying for the repair or replacement on your own. This will prevent your insurance rates from going up, especially if you would be paying the balance anyway to cover your deductible.
Not only is it extremely dangerous to drive around in Arizona with a chipped windshield, it’s also illegal. If your windshield is left unrepaired, there is a risk of not only being pulled over but that the crack will rapidly spread.
If you have a damaged, cracked or chipped windshield it is imperative that you get it fixed as soon as you can to help avoid more problems from occurring.
Having your windshield replaced is a simple process, and a large majority of the time your replacement can be covered by your vehicle insurance policy. Freedom Auto Glass works directly with insurance companies to ensure that you are taken care of.
Unfortunately, with the heat of Arizona summers and the strict windshield replacement laws that prohibit driving around with a large enough crack that can impair the vision of the driver, it is SO important that you seek a replacement. If you wait long enough, the crack can get extremely large and can end up costing more in the long run. Getting a replacement is quick, easy and convienent with Freedom Auto Glass. We will come directly to you to get the job done.
At Freedom Auto Glass in Arizona, we provide repair and replacement services for your windshield. Our work is guaranteed and we put it in writing. If you have a crack or chip in your windshield, or if it has grown into a much bigger issue, contact us today. We’ll schedule you for service and get you back safely on the road.
We’ve all seen other drivers going down the road with a cracked or otherwise damaged windshield. Perhaps you’ve even done it yourself. As long as you can see, why should you worry about fixing something right away? Unfortunately, procrastination can be one of your worst enemies when it comes to repairing your windshield. The following are several reasons you shouldn’t wait to get your windshield repaired.
Poor Visibility
Car manufacturers spend a lot of time designing their cars with safety in mind. This extends to the design of the windshield as well. While a small chip may not affect your visibility much, anything larger than that can have a dramatic impact on your overall visibility, even if you don’t really notice. You may feel as if you don’t need to see that area, until it’s too late and you get into an accident as a result. It’s important to be able to see out of all parts of your windshield, no matter what.
Cracks Spread
What may start as a tiny chip can quickly evolve into something much more severe. Due to the heating and cooling of the windshield because of exterior weather conditions and the heating and cooling you use inside your vehicle, the glass can expand and contract. While this is harmless to an intact windshield, any chips or cracks are likely to spread as a result. The jarring of driving down the road can also worsen these problems.
Safety
Did you know being able to see clearly out your windshield isn’t the only issue a cracked or chipped windshield can cause? There is a long list of safety issues that can occur if you allow your windshield to remain cracked, rather than getting it fixed. For instance, in many vehicles, part of the job of the windshield is to support the roof of the car. In a weakened state, if you get in an accident, it could cause major structural issues and damage. In addition, the cracked glass loses its ability to relatively intact, even when it breaks. Instead, it’s far more likely to shatter, which can send sharp shards of glass flying your way, as well as negatively impact the ability of your airbag to deploy properly to protect you. You are also at a higher risk of being ejected from the vehicle during an accident. Who knew your windshield played such a major role in your safety in an accident?
Save Money
A small crack or chip is much cheaper to fix than a larger one. In fact, if your chip spreads or a crack gets too big, you won’t be able to get it repaired at all. This will require a full replacement, which is significantly more expensive than getting the smaller damage repaired in the first place. It may feel like a hassle to take it in for a repair, but it can save you in the long run.
It’s Illegal
It’s actually illegal to drive around with a cracked windshield for many of the above reasons. If an officer notices the damage, you may be pulled over and ticketed. Instead, it’s best to take care of the problem as soon as you notice it. It will save you a lot of time and money if you do.
Arizona is known for its sunshine and heat. As a result, many vehicles succumb to the extreme temperatures with auto glass damage. In fact, drivers in Arizona are more likely than drivers in any other state to need their windshield repaired. Why does Arizona fall into first place when it comes to windshield damage? Read on to find out why and how you can minimize the impact.
This highway is known for construction and is responsible for many broken windshields in Arizona. During construction, all sorts of debris flies from the road, hitting unsuspecting windshields left and right. And when construction is over, that debris stays behind, ready to get churned up again by passing motorists. And that’s not all. The sides of the highway are decorated with gravel and whenever someone pulls out of gravel, watch out because it gets kicked up and can land right on a windshield, causing a crack or chip that will easily spread.
Arizona is hot. And when your windshield has even the tiniest of chips, the scorching sun can make it spread quickly. Heat makes glass expand, thus putting pressure on the area and causing the damage to increase. Once this happens, your view may be obstructed. Either way, once the crack grows to a sustainable size, you’ll need to get your windshield replaced. Avoid this costly repair by getting any chips and cracks, no matter how small, repaired as soon as possible.
Going quickly from one extreme temperature to another adds stress to your windshield. If your car has been sitting in the sun all day and then you blast the air conditioning, you can expect any cracks or chips to only get worse.
The desert is littered with small rocks and pebbles along the sides of roads. These pebbles get kicked up as people drive along the road, and many of them strike windshields, causing cracks and chips.
At Freedom Auto Glass in Arizona, we provide repair and replacement services for your windshield. Our work is guaranteed and we put it in writing. If you have a crack or chip in your windshield, or if it has grown into a much bigger issue, contact us today. We’ll schedule you for service and get you back safely on the road.
A rock flies up and hits your windshield making a small crack. Uh oh. You know you have time, but how much time? Eventually, the crack will spread, obstruct your view, get you a ticket, and you’ll have to replace the entire windshield, something auto insurance typically doesn’t cover. So what exactly causes a small crack in a windshield to spread like wild fire? There are a more than few answers to this question.
1. Extreme Temperatures
When you mix hot and cold, your windshield feels it. Going from sitting in the scorching sun to getting blasted with AC or sitting in freezing temperatures and then getting hit with a powerful heater takes a toll on your windshield. This jump from hot to cold and cold to hot weakens your windshield, resulting in a crack that spreads. Even without extreme shifts in temperature, your windshield is still at the mercy of Mother Nature. Just cold temperatures alone are enough to make a crack grow because during freezing weather, the windshield curves and you’ll find the crack spreading horizontally.
2. Sunlight
If you don’t keep your car in the garage or under a carport that leaves it exposed to the sun. We all know how powerful the sun can be and your windshield is no match. When the sun beats down, the windshield will eventually get hot enough to spread cracks and chips. It’s best to keep your car in a shaded area until you can get your windshield repaired.
3. Dirt
Tiny grains of dirt can easily get inside the cracks and chips in your windshield. This weakens the windshield, making the crack spread. Avoid this by getting the crack repaired right away. But first, tear off a piece of clear, plastic tape and cover the crack. This way, you can keep the dirt out while arranging to get the windshield fixed.
4. Moisture
Your windshield is made with two layers of glass and a layer of vinyl in between. This leaves plenty of room for moisture to get inside when you have even the smallest of cracks. Water can easily get inside your windshield when it rains or when you go through the car wash. If you live in a cold climate, then that water may freeze, making the situation even worse. Frozen water creates new cracks! If this happens, you’ll most likely need an entire replacement windshield.
5. Bumpy Roads
Driving on bumpy roads puts stress on your windshield. The more stress, the more likely any cracks or chips will spread. Avoid driving on bumpy roads, slamming your car door, and slamming on the brakes to minimize the impact on your windshield.
If you notice a crack or chip in your windshield, get it repaired as soon as possible – before it spreads. A simple repair is much cheaper than having to replace the entire windshield. To learn more about repairing cracks and chips in windshields, contact Freedom Auto Glass today. We will answer all your questions and get your windshield fixed before it becomes an expensive replacement.
Many of us have been there. You get a small chip or crack in your windshield and leave it alone, figuring it won’t get any bigger. Unfortunately, this isn’t often the case. In many situations, this crack or chip will gradually grow larger, causing you to need a full windshield replacement in the future, rather than requiring a small repair now. This can leave you wondering exactly why the heat of the Arizona summer causes this result. Read on to learn the answer.
Why the Spread?
It may seem unusual for a cracked windshield to spread. After all, most people associate this problem with colder climates because water gets into the cracks and expands when it freezes, thus widening and lengthening the crack. However, the heat can actually have a similar effect on your windshield. In fact, a combination of the heat outside and the cold from the air conditioner inside the car can be a problem. When your windshield is exposed to direct sunlight, it heats up dramatically. We’ve all seen videos of how quickly the inside of a car heats up. Hot glass is already more susceptible to damage. If you have a habit of getting into your vehicle and blasting the air conditioning immediately, you are at a much higher risk of expanding the crack in your windshield due to the fast, dramatic change in temperature. This rapid temperature change causes additional stress on the glass, which will only serve to worsen the problem. While you can suffer through the heat and wait to turn on your air conditioner or slowly turn it up, there’s no need. You can often get the chip or crack fixed easily without the need for a full replacement.
Protecting Your Windshield
If you do have a crack or chip in your windshield, the good news is there are steps you can take to help prevent even further damage until you can have an auto glass specialist take a look and either recommend a replacement or complete the repair. While you can’t decrease the temperature outdoors, you can park your vehicle in the shade as often as possible. This will help keep the glass from getting as hot as it would in direct sunlight and thus slow down the possibility of further damage. An enclosed garage is your best option, if possible. While not a long-term solution, gradually increasing your air conditioning when you do drive in the car can help protect your windshield until you can get the appropriate repairs. This allows the glass to adjust to the temperature change more slowly.
It’s important to handle windshield repairs as quickly as possible to prevent even further damage that may require a more expensive windshield replacement instead. This can be a difficult task when temperatures are high, especially during the summer months when the sun beats down on your car on a regular basis. The good news is there are things you can do to help mitigate the damage and ensure it doesn’t get worse before you can make an appointment with an auto glass specialist.
At Freedom, customer satisfaction is given priority and hence we strive to provide the highest quality service every single time. We work hard to make your experience with Freedom the best. We handle all automobile glass replacement and repairs.