Windscreen wipers are considered the small, unsung heroes of automobiles. A tiny piece of equipment that clears rain, snow, and hail quick from view when necessary; thereby, allowing us to drive as far as our tires allow. Wipers are typically made from metal and rubber, and are sometimes required to work for long periods of time. Unfortunately, these items can only remain effective if they are cared for properly. Below is some information and tips on how to care for windscreen wipers, as well as how to replace them when the situation arises.
How Do I Check For Wear And Tear?
Checking for wear and tear on windscreen wipers can be done by looking at the blade. Symptoms of a worn windscreen wiper blade including dry, misshapen, cracked or stiff rubber. If you see any of these signs, then it may be time to purchase new blades, even if it is before the recommended six to twelve month replacement mark.
How Can I Replace Windscreen Wipers On My Car?
Step #1: Prepare To Fit The Wiper Blade
Firstly, pull the entire wiper arm up and back from the windscreen so it appears upright without being held. It is important that you do not let go of the wiper arm before it is locked in this position as it could spring down onto the windscreen resulting in blade or windscreen damage.
Step #2: Replacing The Wiper Blade
When reviewing the wiper arm, there should be a small plastic catch available on the top of the arm. This catch holds the blade in position, and you will need to press the catch to unhook the blade from the wiper. Replacing the blade involves the same process as releasing the blade, only backwards.
Step #3: Replacing The Wiper Arm To Its Initial Position
Return the entire wiper arm to the back to the base of the windscreen and check it is sitting correctly flush to the screen. Be sure to test the work before you head out into the rain to ensure it will work properly.
Why Is It Important To Perform Regular Maintenance On Windscreen Wipers?
The main wiper blade arm can become damaged through general use or over time. This means that the full wiper arm will need to be replaced at a certain point, but as a rule-of-thumb, the blade should be replaced between six to twelve months.
The typical symptoms of a wiper blade suffering wear and tear include the following:
• streaking of water when used, or even parts of the windscreen that are not being cleared
• squeaking when in blades are in use, or the wiper blades begin jumping and do not glide easily across the windscreen
In reference to the second symptom, this could also be due to the lack of moisture on the screen for the blades to clear; therefore, you need to ensure that this potential circumstance is discounted. By ignoring all of the signs, you can cause the wiper blade to break away from the arm, meaning that the arm will scrape across the glass and damage the windscreen, meaning you require auto glass repair. This can be costly and inconvenient to repair.
What Are The Legal And Safety Implications?
Windscreen wipers can be considered far more important than they appear. It is important that you ensure that they are adequately maintained, so that you can retain the best visibility when driving and remain safe when on the road. Failure to do this can result in a penalty fine of approximately £1000. Moreover, aside from the financial consequences, the average 20% of car accidents are due to poor visibility, and this is something that is easy to avoid.
To keep yourself safe, and avoid any financial loss or unnecessary vehicle damage, it is recommended that you change the wiper blades every six to twelve months. This is a small price to pay for your peace of mind.
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