Signs You Need New Wiper Blades, Part 2

Welcome back to our series on wiper blades.

In Part 1, we covered wiper blade squeaking, streaking, rubber damage and bent wiper blade frames. In Part 2, we’ve got four more signs that you might need new wiper blades.

Let’s dive in …

1. BAD CONTACT

When it comes to bad windshield contact, it’s most noticeable when you’re driving in hard rain and wipers aren’t reaching parts of the windshield. When blades don’t come into contact with either the corners of the windshield — or some middling spot — it’s time for new blades.

2. CHATTER

Caused by extreme heat or low temps, wiper chatter can occur. This is the sound your blades make when they kind of skip or skid across the windshield because they’ve lost the ability to “pivot” back and forth properly. There’s also something called permanent set, which can happen when there’s exposure to extreme heat, and the rubber part of the blade is in a fixed position, essentially “melting into a warped shape. Conversely, our Wisconsin winters (and frigid temps) can cause stiffening causing the blades to cold set, making the blade less responsive to the curvature of your windshield. Premium wiper blades are far less prone to chatter, and worth the investment.

3. AGE WEAR

After a while a blade’s ability to handle the elements, and the friction caused from wiping your windshield clean over and over, cause aging of the blade. This is simply normal wear-and-tear. A good rule of thumb is to change wiper blades approximately every six months. If you’re in extreme weather conditions, or driving more miles than most, you might need to change blades more frequently.

4. SEASON CHANGES

Although some of us love the snow, not all blades do. In fact, there are blades designed specifically for winter use. Definitely something to consider, especially if you are driving a lot during the winter months. What happens with non-winter blades is the ice and snow can damage them more quickly than blades designed to withstand the brutally cold temperatures (not to mention frozen windshields) we experience here in Dane County.

GET IN TOUCH

If you have any questions about windshield wipers, or anything else auto related, feel free to contact us anytime! In addition, you can schedule a service online by clicking on the “Request Appointment” button in the navigation above.