When to Replace Wiper Blades?

As a trusted auto repair center will tell you, windshield wipers need to be replaced every six to twelve months depending on what kind of weather you’ve been driving in. Why do you have to replace wiper blades at all? Because they’re made of rubber, and rubber doesn’t last forever. It deteriorates due to environmental factors such as sun, dirt, water, and ice, all of which is part of Colorado driving conditions. Dust, road grime, and bug juice can wear away the edge of the blade, allowing water to get under the blade and stay on your windshield. When your wiper blades start to fail, that’s when the visibility through your windshield is compromised and driving conditions become hazardous. The worse your visibility, the more likely you’ll get into an accident. Don’t wait until the weather gets bad or your blades already start to fail to get them replaced. Fisher Auto in Boulder can replace your windshield wipers and keep you driving safely on the road in any weather conditions.

Signs Windshield Wipers Need to be Replaced

Streaking on the Windshield – Cold weather can make the rubber on the blade hard and brittle, which increases the tendency to crack and split. The holders can also become clogged with ice and snow, preventing the holder from distributing spring tension evenly over the blade, which leaves streaks as it skips across the glass.
Skipping or Chattering – Wiper blades lose their flexibility as the rubber ages and hardens due to sun exposure, and cannot clean as well. They may start to curve and bend so they no longer have full contact with the windshield. This tends to happen to vehicles that are parked outside in the hot sun all day.
Physical Signs of Damage – If your wiper blades are cracked, split, torn, brittle, or worn, they’re obviously well past due for a replacement.
Tension – If the wiper blade can be pulled away from the windshield with little resistance, the problem may be the blades arms. If the tension is too weak, the wipers may not press up to the glass firmly enough to clean it. In this case, the arm itself needs to be replaced, not necessarily the wiper blades. The professionals at Fisher Auto will be able to identify which needs to be replaced.

How Can I Maintain My Windshield Wipers?

Keep the Blades Clean – When you’re filling up at the pump, wipe the blades off with a cloth and a little bit of the squeegee solvent to remove dirt and debris that wears on the rubber and leads to smearing and streaking.
Use An Ice Scraper in the Winter – Windshield wipers are not ice scrapers. Use your ice scraper to remove excess ice from your windshield, especially packed down ice. Put your defrosters on a high setting so the wipers are only removing lose, wet ice.

What Kind of Wiper Blades Do I Need?

When it comes to replacing your wiper blades, there is a very wide range of brand selection, but it’s most important to get the right type of blade that fits your specific vehicle. All you need to do it look up your vehicle’s make and model and match the part number to see which size fits your vehicle. You can do this and replace the wipers yourself, or bring your car into Fisher Auto and let them do all of that for you. Here are the generally types of wiper blades you can choose from:
•    All-Season Wiper Blades – Whether you think curved blades are better with their multiple pressure points, or flat blades that have uniform pressure and motion, these are your     basics.  Different brands have different specifications, but generally all-season wiper blades are made of polymer or synthetic rubber that resist rusting or bending, with coating on the rubber to reduce streaking and friction.
•    Performance Wiper Blades – Better quality in that it has a stronger steel blade with an epoxy coating to resist corrosion. Good for heavy highway driving too since the steel structure of the wiper makes it more resistant to wind lift.
•  Winter Wiper Blades – These have additional features like the rubber boot to helps prevent snow and ice build-up, and a riveted steel superstructure for strength and durability. They usually don’t have brackets as well so snow and ice doesn’t collect in them and cause streaking and smearing on the windshield.

Fisher Auto Has Replacement Wiper Blades for Any Vehicle

Whatever your driving needs, Fisher Auto can replace your windshield wiper blades to meet your vehicle’s specifications. Our experienced service team is dedicated to keeping your car in top condition to keep you driving safely on the road. Call us or stop in today if you have any vehicle repair needs, we can help!
And if you’re wondering how to change your wiper blades, watch the video below.