With a newly replaced windshield, it is essential to take exceptional care for a period after installation to protect it. This glass is one of the most critical components on a vehicle since it provides overall structural integrity for the car, plus allows the field of view when driving to maintain safety for you and those around you. After having a replacement or an auto glass repair in Tulsa, you will have many essential steps to follow immediately after care services and the weeks, months, and as long as a year after installation since the glass will be exceptionally vulnerable, particularly within the first couple days. It is essential to listen to the instructions to avoid having more costly repairs.
If anything is to go wrong, you should avoid attempting to do “DIY patching” but instead go back to the professional glass company that initially took care of the work, so it is consistent and correct.
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Auto Glass Repair/Replacement Tips
It might be tempting once your auto glass undergoes repairs or replacement to get back into life as usual with your vehicle. But the glass is not going to be entirely structurally sound for a while. That means taking it slow and careful with the windshield, following all guidelines given by the experts who installed the window implicitly.
Taking care of the material immediately after repair or replacement will protect it, allowing the best condition for the most extended lifespan. Look here for guidance on easy windshield repair. Some factors that you need to take into consideration with a new window for the greater good of the material includes:
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Drive After Approximately an Hour or So
With a new windshield installation, the suggestion is for you to avoid driving for as long as an hour or more to allow adequate time for the window to set. With service, adhesives keep the material in place, resulting in a waterproof, solid seal that needs sufficient time to dry and set.
When it is time to take your vehicle home, it is essential to look around for glass shards that might be remaining. Also, take a good look around when you get the car home. It can prove challenging to catch every piece, and no one wants a sliver of glass to cause an injury to anyone, especially if you have small children or pets riding in the car.
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Make Sure the Windshield Area Remains Free Of Debris
While the material is setting and the seal is drying, you want to be as diligent as possible to keep the material surrounding the glass clear on the interior and exterior. Dirt, grime, debris can nudge the seal or attach to it, causing movement. It is also wise to avoid putting any type of covering over the glass like a sunshade and ensure you don’t store clutter on the dashboard.
The tape, referenced as “retention tape, intends to maintain the windshield position along with the moldings. It also keeps the area free of dust, debris, and grime. You do not want to touch it, instead of making sure it stays in place for a period after installation. The technicians with the glass company will let you know when it is safe to remove it. When you do take it off, make sure to do so gently to avoid moving things out of position.
Another suggestion is to keep one of the car windows open with just a crack (an inch or so) to release some of the air pressure, which can stress the seal. The recommendation is to leave it down for the first day following the install.
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Car Washes or Power Washing
If you feel it is necessary to wash your car following a windshield install, it is crucial to avoid any type of high-power washes, automatic car washes, power washing, anything high pressure. These can damage the new glass or cause it to shift. The moldings are attempting to set, but these can be knocked out of line with this kind of pressure.
Very gentle hand washing is an option if washing is imperative within the first 48 hours of having the window put in. If you can avoid it, it is better to wait. Also, you do not want to put undue stress on the adhesive while it is setting. Doors should be closed easily and attempt to find smooth roads to travel on, avoiding any potholes or rough patches.
Final Thought
A windshield is probably among the most critical components of a vehicle for the overall integrity it provides the structure itself plus the safety it offers the driver and those passing by. Its services as the primary field of view. If it becomes obstructed or damaged in any way, repairs or a replacement need to occur immediately. No one should drive a car when the view is not 100% clear. Go to https://autotrends.org/2019/06/01/temporary-repair-steps-and-tips-for-windshields/ for ideas on temporary repairs.
After going in for a repair or replacement, the window will need time to settle into its position. For at least 48 hours, the glass will be at its most vulnerable, requiring the utmost care. There will be retention tape around the glass that needs to stay in place to keep the piece in position and prevent dirt from getting into the area, which could cause pressure and shifting. It should be removed gingerly after about a day.
The idea for those 48 hours is to be particularly gentle. Closing doors and driving on smoother roads is the recommendation; avoiding potholes and uneven surfaces prevents jarring that can jerk the window, potentially moving it.
There should be no reason to have to wash the car for at least 48 hours or more. If you emergently need to, it should be done with the utmost care by hand, avoiding the windshield.
Being careful is not something that will be a mere couple of days’ efforts. To ensure the best results from the installation, there are steps your glass provider will give you to make sure of the stability for weeks, months, and as long as the year after installation. Following these guidelines will provide you with a longer lifespan for your windshield if you give the optimum care through that life cycle.
