Your car's windshield should be reliable, structurally sound, and defectless to ensure proper visibility on the road and lower the risk of accidents. Unfortunately, many drivers assume the windshield has to have large cracks for it to be viable for a replacement. As a result, they drive around with damaged windshields that affect visibility and navigation. If you are keen on maintaining road safety, beware of these subtle signs indicating you should replace your windshield. 

Whooshing Sound At High Speed

Do you hear a whooshing or whistling sound on your windshield while driving at high speed? This problem usually occurs after replacing the glass. If the glass isn't sealed correctly, there may be cracks left between the glass and the body. When driving at high speeds, the wind gets into the cabin through the cracks, producing a whooshing sound on the windshield. Similarly, if your windshield has small cracks with missing pieces, the wind will blow through them and cause a whistling sound. You should replace the windshield to eliminate the distracting and annoying sounds.

White Haze on the Edges of the Glass

Most vehicle windshields are made of laminated glass. The glass features two layers of standard glass and a layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) plastic between them. The PVB interlayer is a resin that bonds the glass and prevents it from shattering on impact. Instead of breaking into sharp shards, the glass stays in place and breaks into small, blunt pieces.

Over time, the PVB interlayer may separate from the glass due to moisture damage. This phenomenon is known as delamination. It leaves behind a white haze at the edges of the glass. Once delamination occurs, the glass can easily shatter into sharp shards on impact and injure the car occupants. Therefore, if you notice a white haze on the edges of your windshield, replace it to prevent injuries from broken glass.

Small Pits on the Glass

Auto windshields are usually exposed to lots of flying debris, such as gravel and sharp rocks. As a result, small pits or craters occur on the windshield. These pits may seem harmless, but they can cause pitting. Pitting occurs when the dents on the glass reflect and distort light hitting the windshield from the sun or other vehicles' headlights.

The distortion can affect driver visibility, increasing the risk of accidents. When it's raining, the pits prevent the glass from shedding water fast enough, reducing visibility. If your windshield has minor dents or craters, don't wait for them to develop into large cracks. Instead, replace the glass immediately to improve visibility on the road.

Don't wait for large cracks to develop on your windshield to get a replacement. If you have noticed the above signs, replace the glass immediately to improve visibility and safety on the road.

Contact a windshield replacement company to learn more.