Winter is almost here in St Catharines, and it's time to start thinking about getting your car (and your windshield!) ready for the harsh weather. One important thing you will want to take care of now before colder temperatures arrive is making sure that your windshield washer fluid doesn't freeze.
Read on for tips to keep your windshield washer fluid from freezing this winter!
Adding a little bit of rubbing alcohol or high-proof vodka to your windshield washer fluid is an easy way to keep it from freezing during the winter months. Both have lower freezing points which can keep your windshield washer fluid from freezing.
(If you want to waste good vodka, sure, go ahead!) But both will work with most windshield washer fluid brands but check the labels first to make sure.
Some people swear by antifreeze, but adding it to your windshield washer fluid might damage your car's paint and metal parts.
You're better off using a winter formula windshield washer fluid, which we're discussing next.
Winter windshield washer fluids contain chemicals that keep them from freezing down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit, so be sure you're using one if you live in an area where it freezes frequently.
Don't use regular washer fluid if you live in a cold climate because it won't work well when the weather is extremely cold.
Leaving the cover off your windshield washer reservoir is a terrible idea if you live in an area where the weather gets freezing. The fluid inside of your reservoir will freeze, which means that it won't be able to do its job when you're driving on a snowy day.
Putting a lid on your windshield washer reservoir is one quick and easy way to keep this from happening.
Removing all of your windshield washer fluid is never a good idea, even if you are planning on refilling it. The liquid inside your reservoir helps keep the other components in the system from freezing, so you mustn't remove all of this fluid. If you have to drain your windshield washer fluid reservoir for any reason, make sure to refill it before you drive in cold weather.
If you want to improve the chances of your windshield washer fluid staying unfrozen, consider using a windshield cover when your car is parked overnight.
If none of the above hacks work and all other options fail, consider investing in a windshield de-icer. De-icers are specially designed to keep your windshield from frosting over in cold temperatures.
Some car owners even use the de-icer when their car is parked overnight during winter months because it can help save time in the morning when you're getting ready for work or school.
There you have it; at Surge Auto Glass, we are interested in helping our customers save their cars and save some money — even with things you might think have negligible costs - like your windshield washer fluid.
We understand that these things add up. It's good to save every dollar for emergencies, or you'll need a big-ticket item, like auto glass.
So, give us a call, and we can assist you with any questions you may have!
We'll be here for all of your auto glass needs — and we're often open on weekends and holidays — during times when you most need us!
Check out our blog page for more tips!
