5 Common Causes of Windshield Cracks

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• Every year, thousands of automobile owners slide
  behind the wheel of their car and make a
  disagreeable discoveryan unsightly crack has
  suddenly appeared on their windshield. In a lot
  of cases, the crack develops without any apparent
  cause, but this kind of damage never occurs for
  no reason. Lets look into some of the more
  common causes of windshield cracks.

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• Anyone who drives is aware that small pebbles and
  other tiny objects sometimes glance across the
  windshield. Its most likely to happen while
  driving on dirt roads, or while traveling behind
  an overloaded utility truck.
• That tiny collision may go unnoticed at first,
  but sometimes it creates a small crack that
  rapidly expands across the windshield.

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• Windshields can sustain cracks simply from sudden
  alterations in temperature.
• If youve ever turned on your cars air
  conditioning full blast after letting the vehicle
  sit in 95-degree heat all day, youve put
  yourself at risk for damaging your windshield.
  Thats because the disparity between the outside
  and interior temperatures of the windshield
  places enormous stress on the glass.

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• By the same token, its best to avoid very hot or
  very cold temperatures if you want to keep your
  windshield in prime condition. Windshields expand
  and contract when exposed to severe weather. As a
  result, tiny cracks and chips can suddenly
  develop on your windshield.

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• Sometimes the windshield is installed improperly,
  resulting in uneven distribution of pressure
  across its surface. This increases the likelihood
  that cracks will eventually appear.
• These types of cracks usually occur along the
  edges of the windshield.

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• Hail storms are often quite harmless, dropping
  tiny specks of ice that easily disintegrate upon
  contact with any solid surface. Sometimes,
  though, hail storms generate huge, dense lumps of
  ice.
• If any of these fall on your windshieldand its
  very possible that multiple chunks will strike
  your car during a stormyour windshield could
  easily become damaged.

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• Many drivers assume they can live with a tiny
  crack in their windshieldit may not look good,
  but it wont hurt anything. Or will it?
• Unfortunately, windshield cracks tend to spread,
  especially when exposed to the stressors we have
  mentioned. Over time, they can begin to obstruct
  your line of sight while you are behind the
  wheel.
• Also, bear in mind that windshields help prevent
  car roofs from caving in during a rollover. This
  safety feature becomes compromised when the
  windshield is cracked.

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• Happily, repairing a cracked windshield is
  easierand less expensivethan many people think.
  
• Sometimes windshields are too badly cracked for
  repairs, which means they must be replaced
  altogether. This option costs more, but it still
  isnt prohibitively expensive.
• In addition, a lot of auto insurance policies
  cover the cost of a windshield replacement.

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• Established in 1949 as an auto glass shop located
  in Minneapolis, MN, Harmon AutoGlass has since
  grown into a nationwide family of service centers
  specializing in replacing and repairing
  automotive windshields, as well as glass services
  for home and business. The company is a
  subsidiary of The Dwyer Group, Inc. Visit
  www.harmonautoglassmn.com to learn more.