Why Ottawa’s Fluctuating Temperatures Are Killing Your Windshield
Drivers in Ottawa are used to weather that changes quickly. During most of the year, mornings are cold, afternoons are warm, and the temperature can drop suddenly. These changes may seem normal, but they put a lot of stress on one of the most crucial safety features of your car: the windshield. Knowing how Ottawa's weather affects car windows can help you keep them from breaking, keep your view clear, and avoid having to pay for repairs. How fluctuating temperatures damage auto glass Auto glass naturally expands when heated and contracts when cooled. In a climate like Ottawa’s, where temperatures can shift dramatically within hours, repeated expansion and contraction create internal stress within the windshield. Here is how it typically happens: Overnight freezing temperatures cause the glass to contract Morning sunlight rapidly heats the outer surface Interior defrost systems introduce sudden heat from inside Existing chips expand under uneven pressure Over time, these stress cycl...