Are Old Wipers Damaging Your Windscreen?

A lot of your driving depends heavily on how clear your view of the road and traffic is. And, while your windscreen is an important part of your vehicle, its wipers are just as important.

Why are They Important?

Windscreens have one of the most important functionalities — moving in a systematic manner to clean your windscreen and offer you clarity of vision. This is all the more essential in non-favourable weather conditions.

If your blades aren’t doing as good of a job, you may be faced with problems like — unclear visibility, badly mirrored light from other vehicles and difficulty in determining distances in your path ahead.

Your blades also help maintain your windscreen when it comes in contact with various substances like debris, oil or moisture, and other elements.

How do They Get Worn Out?

Harsh sunlight or heavy rain or hail can take a toll on your blades over time, just like it can take a toll on other parts of your vehicle. Additionally, with daily use, your blades can wear away and need to be replaced to ensure the upkeep of your windscreen.

Disadvantages of Worn Out Blades

The constant exposure, of both the metal and rubber part of your blades, to debris, elements of the weather, and oil can cause them to get worn out over time. Here’s what you should keep an eye out for to know if your blades are worn out:

• They will start to leave little streaks against the screen
• They may not wipe the screen evenly and may leave spots or sections
• They make weird noises when you use them

If you notice any of the above, there is a good chance that the rubber part is damaged and will soon be gone enough to allow the metal to have direct contact with the screen. This can lead to scratches from the metal on your screen which can hamper your ability to clearly see the road.

How are Wiper Scratches Different from Other Scratches?

Windscreens are created keeping in mind that they may come into frequent contact with small rocks, airborne particles or debris from other vehicles or the road, heavy rain or snow and other elements.

This is why none of these cause as much damage to your screen as compared to the permanent damage caused from worn out blades. This is why it is important to ensure that your wipers are not damaging your windscreen.

How to Conduct an Inspection?

First, look for any streaking on your windscreen. This is one of the first signs of a worn out wiper blade affecting your screen. If you notice some streaking or marks, try to analyze whether the streak pattern is arched like the movement of your blades or by something else.

You can also inspect the blades to see if the rubber looks worn out or if the metal portion is exposed and directly coming in contact with the screen. If the damage doesn’t seem to be caused by your blades, it could have been caused by another reason or some kind of debris.

However, if the damage seems to be caused by the blades, it would be best for you to replace the blades before they can do any more damage and compromise your vehicle’s safety.

Signs that Hint towards Blade Replacement

You may need to replace your blades if your screen isn’t as clear as it needs to be to offer you 100% clarity of the road or path ahead. Another sign of a due replacement is a foggy or spotty screen post using your wipers, as this showcases their inability to do the job efficiently. Worn out blades also cause scratching noises, so be on the lookout for the same.

If you notice that metal parts are sticking out, know that the rubber is getting eroded in these parts and exposed metal in such parts is a definite sign of damage. In case you notice that water drops stay on your screen for longer than usual, it could be a sign of gaps in the grooves of the wipers.

Maintaining Windscreen Wipers

Check and clean your wipers regularly. Keeping the wiper fluid filled up can also help you clean both your blades and your screen efficiently. Finally, have a professional check your screen and blades every 6 months or so to ensure that your vehicle remains in optimum condition.

What If It is Already Damaged?

Worn out wipers can cause small grooves to trap moisture and that begins to compromise the strength and ability of your screen. It could also result in a foggy layer on your screen when dirt gets trapped in it. Finally, the moisture can also freeze in winter making your screen prone to getting chipped or cracked easily

Given that driving around with a cracked windscreen is illegal, it would benefit you to get professional advice about what would be best for the integrity of your windscreen to be intact and your vehicle to be safe.

About the Author: Darren Pay & Justin Oakes, the co-founders of A1 Windscreens, specialise in car glass replacement and windscreen wiper replacement in Australia and are known for providing quick and efficient services.