Why You Should Check Your Car Windows for Cracks & Chips Before Freezing Temps in Indiana

📍 Serving Bloomington, Terre Haute & the Wabash Valley

Freezing temperatures can be tough on your vehicle, especially your auto glass. Small chips and cracks that seem harmless in warmer weather can quickly worsen when the temperature drops. Indiana winters bring repeated freezing and thawing cycles, which put extra stress on your windshield and windows.

Here’s why it’s important to inspect your auto glass before freezing weather arrives, how cold temps affect cracks, and what to do if you find damage on your vehicle.

Why Cold Weather Makes Cracks Worse

Glass expands and contracts as temperatures change. In winter, those temperature swings can cause:

• Small chips to turn into long cracks

• Cracks to spread to the edges of the windshield

• Weakened structural integrity

• Reduced visibility

Even running your defroster on high heat can cause rapid expansion, making existing cracks worse.

If you find damage, schedule repair quickly.

What Freezing Temps Can Do to Your Windshield

When water gets into a chip or crack and freezes, it expands — pushing the damage deeper into the glass.

Cold weather can lead to:

• Spiderweb cracks

• Sudden long cracks

• Complete windshield failure

• More expensive repairs later

Once cracks reach the edge, full windshield replacement is typically required

How to Inspect Your Auto Glass Before Winter

Before temperatures drop, take a few minutes to look over your windows and windshield:

✔ Check the following:

• Edges of the windshield (common stress points)

• Areas behind inspection stickers or tint

• The passenger side, which often catches road debris

• Side and rear windows for small impact marks

If you see even a small chip, it’s best to repair it now, repairs are faster and more affordable than replacement.

Avoid Using Hot Water or High Heat on a Frozen Windshield

A common winter mistake is pouring hot water on frozen glass. This can:

• Crack the windshield instantly

• Worsen existing chips

• Cause sudden stress fractures

Instead, use your vehicle’s defroster on low heat and give the glass time to warm gradually.

Mobile Auto Glass Service for Winter Damage

If your windshield cracks suddenly during a cold snap, you may still be able to drive safely — but large cracks or shattered glass should be repaired immediately.

American Eagle Auto Glass offers mobile service throughout Bloomington, Terre Haute, and the Wabash Valley

Don’t Wait Until It Freezes — Get Damage Repaired Early

Winter cracks spread fast, and repairs that are simple today may require a full replacement tomorrow. Getting ahead of the cold weather protects your visibility, your vehicle, and your safety.

📍 Serving Bloomington, IN, Terre Haute, IN, and the Wabash Valley

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