When Nampa motorists talk about vehicle safety, they think of tires and brakes. But do we think about our windshields? Isn’t the ability to see a prime safety factor when it comes to driving around Idaho? Yet we often don’t even notice our windshields until we can’t see through them, or until our wiper blades fail.
It’s estimated that around 46 million people are driving
with wipers that won’t keep their windshields clear during a storm — that’s 46
million people with impaired vision during a storm. For safety’s sake, Nampa
drivers need to change the way they think about wiper blades. Most of us, 78%
in fact, only change our wiper blades after they fail. In other words, we don’t
get new ones until the old ones become a detrimental safety hazard. Instead, we
Nampa auto owners need to make wiper blades an important part of our preventive
maintenance routine.
Wiper blades should be changed twice a year, in the spring
and in the fall. In Idaho areas that experience harsh winter weather, special
blades are available that prevent ice and snow from collecting on the wiper.
Ask your Honest Country Repair tech about wiper blades that repel ice and snow.
No matter what blades you use on your vehicle in the winter,
don’t expect them to clear the ice and snow from your windshield after your
vehicle has been parked for a while. Using your wipers will shred your blades
and may even damage your wiper motor. And don’t drive on Nampa roads with a
frosted windshield. That’s a serious safety hazard. It can cause accidents, and
you could be held liable.
Wiper blades are subjected to harsh conditions in Nampa.
They’re out in the Nampa sun and in the cold. Over time, they become hard and
brittle and lose their flexibility. Then they start to tear. Without
flexibility, wipers just can’t clear a windshield of water or snow. And torn
wipers can actually scratch your windshield. Then the entire windshield has to
be replaced — along with the wiper blades. It’s a prime example of how
preventive maintenance could have saved you a significant repair bill.
Nampa car owners can purchase new wiper blades at an auto
service center or at any Nampa auto parts store. They cost about the same. But
the auto service center will throw in the installation.
Once you have good wipers installed, don’t forget to top off
your windshield washer fluid. If you take your vehicle in for a full-service
oil change at Country Repair in Nampa, your washer fluid will get topped off
then. But it’s good auto advice to purchase a jug of washer fluid to keep at
home — just in case. And pack it in the car when you go on long trips.
While we’re on the subject, Country Repair advises Nampa
motorists to always fill their washer fluid reservoir with window washer fluid.
Don’t ever use water. Water can freeze in the reservoir, which can damage it.
It can also freeze onto your windshield. Besides, plain water just can’t get a
windshield clean. Think about it. Do you use plain water to clean your bathroom
mirrors? And a bathroom mirror doesn’t get exposed to anything near the gunk
that can end up on your windshield. Windshield washer fluid was designed to do
one thing — to clean windshields. Let it do its critical job.
A clean windshield is not just good car care for Nampa car
owners — it’s an essential safety feature. Let’s keep it that way.
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