Being able to see the road is step one of road safety, which means your windshield wipers are a key safety feature on your vehicle. When they stop helping you see better in rain or snow, that’s a serious problem. Wiper blades wear out with use, and regularly need to be replaced like many other of your vehicle’s components. Read on with Downtown Ford’s certified service team as we let you know when it’s time to change your wiper blades.
Signs of Wear
You can often tell when a wiper blade needs replacing because it stops effectively clearing water, snow, and mud from the windshield. Streaking and skipping are both indicators that the rubber has stopped conforming to the windshield. Large areas not being properly cleared can also indicate rubber having worn down over parts of the blade. Squeaking and scraping noises are indicators the rubber has worn down to the metal. If you notice any of these signs, you should consider getting replacement blades installed.
Frequency of Replacement
If you haven’t noticed obvious signs that your wiper blades need replacement, you should still consider replacements after every 6 to 12 months of standard use. This ensures that you’ll regularly have optimal windshield clearing, especially as we get into the winter months where snow and mud become bigger concerns for the average driver.
Winter Wipers
Standard windshield wiper blades are at their best in the warmer months, and dealing with rain and mud. Snow is heavier, and ice can build up on wiper blades in the extreme cold. Thankfully, much like winter tires, there are winter windshield wiper blades. They can not only better handle the snow and cold, but can extend the life of your regular wiper blades because you aren’t using them for a segment of the year. You may consider swapping in winter wiper blades at the same time as you get your winter tires put on, and then switching them back in the spring.
Schedule Your Wiper Replacement with Downtown Ford
Our Ford certified service team is ready to help you get your windshield wiper blades replaced so you can see when the weather gets bad. Schedule your next service appointment at Downtown Ford, today!
