Replacing car wipers - when, why and for how much

Autumn and winter are a good time to install new wipers in your car, because it is during these months that they are used most often. For your own safety, do not skimp on them.

Worn-out wipers first leave streaks on the windshield, reducing visibility. Over time it becomes more and more unpleasant. Especially when another car is coming from the opposite direction.

Clean windows are important

If the driver does not respond, worn-out wiper blades bounce up the windshield instead of sliding smoothly across it. At the same time, a characteristic creak can be heard. You can check if the wiper arms are pressing the blades correctly. But in most cases, a squeak is a signal that the wiper blades need to be replaced with new ones.

Their consumption is influenced not only by weather conditions, but also by the way the car is operated. For example, how we handle glass. Dirty - at any time of the year - they are like pumice for rugs. Therefore, it is worth taking care of the cleanliness of the windows, not forgetting to also wipe the feathers.

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death scratch

Rugs in winter require special handling - especially with the onset of frost. Even cleaning windows is harmful for them. When cleaning windows from frost and ice, we draw glass. First, it impairs visibility because scratches scatter light rays. Secondly, it accelerates the wear of the rubber bands of the wipers.

Some advise instead of scraping, start the engine, turn on the air supply to the windows and wait for the windows to thaw on their own. Only that, according to the recommendations of automakers, you should start moving immediately after starting the engine. Thus, we save fuel and power unit.

Therefore, experts advise the use of de-icers. “This is the best solution because we don't damage the windows and wiper blades,” says Maciej Chmielewski from Invest Moto Centrum in Bydgoszcz, a company operating under the Profiauto name.

Check washer fluid

Khmelevsky also advises turning on the wipers and washers in cold weather only when the windows warm up a little. It is worth remembering to use winter washer fluids, preferably not the cheapest ones.

Moreover, in many cars, wipers and washers are connected to the same fuse. Frozen liquid can cause electrical circuit failure when trying to spray water on windows. If the driver does not have a spare fuse, it remains with the wipers inoperative. This is dangerous not only on long trips. In order to avoid failure of the wiper motor, before starting it, it is worth checking if the windshields are frozen.

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What to look for when replacing wipers?

“Firstly, you shouldn’t save money,” emphasizes Maciej Chmielewski. In his opinion, the best are wipers without rails, i.e. bananas or silencio. Because they don't have a metal clip, their rubber adheres better to the glass. In addition, they are quieter. They are not cheap - prices for branded goods start from 40 zł and more per item.

When buying traditional rugs, it is also worth choosing products from recognized companies. - Avoid cheap ones that are sold in supermarkets. This is a waste of money, - the expert notes.