Drivers who do one thing when windscreen is frozen face £1,350 bill

The RAC said: “In the past, people used to boil water in the kettle and then throw it on the frozen car to quickly melt the car."
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


Drivers have been urged to "never" use a kettle to defrost their car windscreens if it has frozen over in the UK snow storm. The RAC said: “In the past, people used to boil water in the kettle and then throw it on the frozen car to quickly melt the car."

The cost of repairing a damaged windscreen can range anywhere from £40 to £118 but if it is particularly bad, drivers, motorists and road users may be forced to fork out between £260 and £1,350 for a whole new windscreen.

The RAC said: “However, this is a very dangerous thing to do! It will likely crack the glass – and even if it doesn’t, repeatedly doing it will weaken the glass. Known as ‘thermal shock’, this is a bad habit to get into. Although it may be the quick option – spending an extra minute will be worth not having a large bill to replace your windscreen.”

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Autoglass said: "Your windshield is designed to protect you from weather conditions, flying debris and serious injury in the case of collision. Good quality, correctly installed windshields are surprisingly sturdy. So, it may come as something of a surprise how vulnerable they can be to sudden temperature shifts.

"Your windscreen can expand and contract depending on its exposure to different temperatures. This exposure to varying weather conditions and their associated affects on your windscreen can result in lasting damage. The best way to avoid this damage to your windscreen is to avoid exposing it to radical temperature changes, this is true even when dealing with an already frozen windshield.

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"When you defrost your windshield or rear window – avoid applying boiling water directly to the glass, as this may damage it." It went on to add: "If not done correctly, defrosting your car windscreen can cause major damage.

"But, sunnier weather conditions can also prove problematic for windshields. You should avoid leaving your car parked in direct sunlight on very hot days. It is also wise to avoid turning up your air conditioning too high if the car’s interior has become particularly hot."