Car wipers freeze: we solve the problem in effective ways

In winter, there is a very short daylight hours, in addition, there are often snowfalls, and during the thaw - slush, therefore, to ensure traffic safety, the windshield must always be clean. Windshield wipers must be constantly serviceable so that they can clean the glass at the right time. Let's figure out why the wipers freeze in the winter and what needs to be done to avoid such a nuisance.

Why do windshield wipers freeze?

Windshield wipers must work properly in any weather, this condition is the key to good visibility and safety. A problem such as freezing windshield wipers usually occurs at near-zero or sub-zero air temperatures.

The main reason for the freezing of wipers is adverse climatic conditions. Snow, falling on the glass, melts and instantly turns into ice, which prevents the wipers from working normally.

Snow, falling on the glass, melts and instantly turns into ice, which prevents the wipers from working normally

Causes of poor wiper operation in winter:

• moisture gets into the hinges of the brush frame, which prevents the rubber from being pressed tightly against the glass. This problem occurs with frame brushes, but is absent in frameless models;
• getting into the grooves of the cilia, moisture can freeze in them, which also worsens the efficiency of the wipers.

What to do if the wiper blades are frozen to the glass

Do not panic if the wipers on your car are frozen.

First, let's look at what absolutely can not be done:

• tear off with great force. Often the brushes freeze very hard, and such a decision will lead to a rupture of the gum and the need to purchase new wipers;
• turn on the wipers. If the wipers are very frozen, then by turning on the electric motor, you can not only break the rubber bands, but also damage the hinges, and also disable the motor due to overload.

There are several ways in which you can free or defrost wipers frozen to the glass:

• if the windshield wipers are not frozen very hard, then sometimes it is enough to move them gently with your hand and the ice will collapse;
• when the brushes are frozen tightly, you need to start the engine and warm up the car. It is necessary to turn on the stove almost immediately after starting the engine. If you wait for the motor to warm up and apply hot air to the glass, the sudden change in temperature may cause it to crack. Slow heating of the glass does not carry such a danger, while the wipers will thaw no less efficiently;
• the use of non-freezing liquid allows you to speed up the process of thawing ice. The glass can be sprayed from the washer tank, but the brushes cannot be turned on. There are cars in which, when the washer is turned on, the wipers immediately move, in which case it is necessary to pour non-freezing liquid from the canister onto the brushes;
• the use of special autochemistry. There are products in the form of liquids or sprays that are designed to defrost ice. It is enough to apply such a liquid to the frozen windshield wipers and after a few seconds the ice will completely melt;
  

  It is enough to apply a special liquid to the frozen windshield wipers and after a few seconds the ice will completely melt.
• folk methods. You can use a mixture of 3 parts vinegar and 1 part water, it also helps to quickly defrost the ice. Salt solution also helps, but keep in mind that such options negatively affect not only the rubber parts, but also the paintwork.

Video: Wiper zone heating

Wiper zone heating in action

How to process wipers so that they do not freeze

So that such a problem as frozen wipers does not arise at the most inopportune moment, it is necessary to properly care for and maintain the wipers. There is no single correct and universal solution, but there are several ways to help deal with such a problem. Each motorist can choose exactly the method that he considers the most affordable and effective:

1. Glass washer fluid. It is necessary to use special fluids that are designed for severe frosts. After the trip, it is recommended to moisten the gum with such a liquid. Thus, ice will be removed from the working surface, in addition, the elasticity of the wipers improves and they do not damage the glass.
   

   It is necessary to use special windshield washer fluids that are designed for severe frosts.
2. WD-40 or other water repellent lubricant. Lubricate all hinges and joints with such means. With their help, moisture is removed and at low temperatures the mechanism will not freeze.
   

   WD-40 lubricates all hinges and joints
3. Raising wipers. Our grandfathers did this, however, this is an effective way to protect brushes from freezing. The disadvantage of this option is that on the raised wipers, moisture will get on the springs and inside the mechanism, so it’s not the rubber bands that will freeze, but the hinges and joints.
   

   Raising the windshield wipers is an effective way to keep them from freezing.
4. Wrapping wipers with polyethylene. It is enough to put ordinary bags on the brushes in the evening, which will protect them from moisture and the gum will not freeze.
5. Winter wipers. This is a modern solution that appeared relatively recently. There are two types of winter brushes:
   • frame. Their difference from summer wipers is that there is a protective cover on the working element;
     

     Framed winter wipers differ from summer brushes by the presence of a protective cover on the working element
   • frameless brushes do not have hinges and rocker arms. They have a steel plate that clearly follows the curves of the windshield, as well as a system of spring elements hidden inside.
     

     Frameless wipers do not have hinges and rocker arms, instead there is a steel plate that repeats the windshield curves and a system of spring elements inside the device
6. heating elements. In cold weather, you can use special heating elements. They can be of the following types:
   • overhead film. Such elements are glued to the windshield in the place where the brushes adjoin when they are in the off state;
     

     The heating elements are installed on the glass in the place where the brushes fit, which are in the off position.
   • ready-made wipers with built-in heating elements;
     

     Windshield wipers with heating elements built inside
   • heaters built into the brushes. You can buy them at the store and install them yourself.
     

     Heaters can be mounted on top of the wipers

Video: what to do so that the wipers do not freeze to the glass

IF wipers freeze TO THE WINDSHIELD IS IT NEEDED ONLY ...?

Deprecated and broken options

There are many tips to keep your windshield wipers from freezing, but most of them are useless and some are even harmful:

• Silicone Grease. This option will protect the gum from freezing, but the presence of silicone on it leads to the accumulation of dirt and dust, so the glass will be dirty. Thus, the solution of one problem creates another;
  

  Silicone lubricant prevents rubber bands from freezing, but causes dirt to accumulate on them
• engine oil. This method doesn't work very well. In extreme cold, rubber bands still freeze. In addition, the glass gets dirty and visibility deteriorates;
• lithol. This method is similar to the previous one, but even more dangerous. As a result of the use of lithol, a greasy crust forms on the glass, which is then difficult to remove;
• hot water. This is the most dangerous method to defrost the brushes, but hot water can crack the glass. Even if the rubber bands are frozen, the water in the cold quickly freezes again, which only aggravates the situation in the future.

To ensure the cleanliness of the windshield and visibility, it is necessary that the wipers work properly, this is especially important in winter. There is no universal remedy that reliably protects windshield wipers from freezing. In order to effectively deal with the freezing of the wipers, it is necessary to use an integrated approach and then such a problem will not be taken by surprise.