Dear Colorado Springs Auto Glass,
About two months ago I noticed a very small crack on my windshield. I knew it was there, but did not really think anything of it. It just seemed so small that it was not a very big deal. It was on the passenger side of the windshield and closer to the bottom so I barely ever saw it when I drove. I know you are supposed to get things fixed as soon as you notice them, but I just did not have the time to do so and did not think it was really that big of a deal. Recently though, I have noticed that the crack seems to have doubled in size from where it started. I am just curious how this could have happened? I have no noticed anything hitting my windshield or any other cracks or chips on my glass. Is this normal or is something wrong? Can your skilled technicians please help me figure out what is going on with my auto glass?
Dear Procrastinating Fixer,
This is a actually a very common thing to have happen if you let a chip or crack on your auto glass go without being fixed for too long. You should have made the time to get the crack fixed when you first noticed it. It does not take that long to fix by a professional, or you could have gone out and purchased a do it yourself kit if you think it was that small. It is quite common for a crack of chip to grow in size if it is forgotten about for too long. Our skilled technicians would be happy to help you figure out your problem.
There are actually a few reasons why the crack in your auto glass has doubled in size. One of the more common reasons is moisture and then heat. First, if it rains or if you live in a cold climate, there is most likely a lot of moisture in the air. What happens is that the moisture will seep into the crack that is on your auto glass. Once the water is in the crack, it starts to realize it has no place to go. When this moisture heats up, it starts to expand. Since there is so little room inside of the crack it actually starts to expand to accommodate this moisture. Also, cracks and chips may start to expand just by driving over some bumps in the road. It just starts to slowly grow from the edges because of all the jolts the glass is going through.
There are many other reasons your crack can start to grow as well. You should take your car into an auto glass specialist immediately. Depending on how large it has grown, you may not have to get your entire windshield replaced. Not only is this much more expensive, but it will take more time to fix.
