Wiper Blades
Wiper Blades
Why You Should Replace Your Wiper Blades
Wiper Blade replacement at ACA
An often overlooked duty of car maintenance is checking the windshield wipers and replacing them when necessary. This is most common for drivers living in dry areas with little rainfall, like right here in Southern California. (Drivers in wetter states, like Washington or Florida, know all too well what poor wiper maintenance can reap for the unwitting motorist.)
A wiper blade is that most frustrating of tools: Easy to ignore and easily forgotten, right up until you need it. And if it has been ignored and forgotten for too long, when you need it is exactly when it will break.
It’s easy to understand why. Wipers hold the unique distinction of being the only component of your vehicle that operates outside the chassis. Think about it: Your tires meet the road but they are, in effect, a covering for the real moving parts, the wheels. The rest of your car’s systems are all underneath the hood or wired into the body. They are protected by the metal shell of your vehicle. These components all experience wear and tear due to use, but none of them are as exposed to the elements as your wipers.
Wipers are made of rubber and that rubber wears down over time. How it breaks down will vary depending on whether you live in a warm or cold climate. Hot environments where wipers get little use, like California, will eventually cause the rubber to crack and tear. For cold or wet environments, the breakdown is caused by the obvious fact that wipers get used more often.
It’s important to always check your wiper blades because you never know when a situation may arise that will require them. Without them, your visibility will be shot and you open yourself and fellow motorists up to danger. Also, a wiper blade whose rubber has worn away will expose the metal inside. Turn it on and guess what? You’ve just scratched your windshield. A couple bucks for a new set of wipers or a serious bill for window repair? You decide.
For new windshield wiper blades, drive on down to ACA Automotive and get your car serviced today!