Clearing (Thawing) Your Windshield

As long as there have been cars in cold climates, there has been the problem of keeping the windshields clear. A garage is the easiest solution, but for many it still isn't an option. Vehicle defrost systems have tried to solve the problem by blowing hot air (once the engine is heated sufficiently) directly on the windshield, but this can leave the passengers shivering in their seats. Most drivers end up painfully scraping the windshield free of snow, ice and frost in an effort to leave on time and avoid freezing during their commutes. But now there are more options that can make driving less stressful (and chilling) during the long winter months.

These heated wiper blades are
offered by Everblade for
most vehicles.

Heating wiper blades: One approach to removing ice, snow and frost from windshields is to heat the blade on the window wipers. Heating the blade helps clear the glass at each point that the blade contacts--so driver visibility is good and remains good, even during cold, stormy weather. The blade can be heated by connecting it to a power source (such as the cigarette lighter or any 12 volt power supply). Heated wiper blades are a convenient solution to thaw freezing auto glass because they are relatively cheap ($80.00 - $100.00 from Everblade) and are easily retrofitted to almost any vehicle.

An illustration of the heated
washer fluid "HotShot System"
my MicroHeat.

Heating the windshield: A more expensive, but perhaps more thorough, solution to thawing a frozen window glass is heating the glass itself. A very thin (1 millionth of an inch) metallic film is placed in between the two glass surfaces (with the plastic layer) and connected to a power source. The metal can extend over the entire glass surface (not just the area covered by the wipers) and conducts heat to the frozen glass, melting any ice, snow or frost. Of course, it is still necessary to use windshield wipers to remove excess moisture or precipitation, but the entire glass surface is thawed—a welcome relief in areas with hard frosts and freezes The power source required for this system can be the car battery, or with the ElectriClear system, the car's electrical system—eliminating the possibility of drained batteries. The ElectriClear heating film can be adapted to almost any vehicle, but it is necessary to make sure the system is compatible with the vehicle's electrical system. Of course, a heated windshield means replacing the windshield that came with the car—unless your vehicle happened to be a luxury vehicle that was manufactured with this specialty option.

Heating the windshield fluid: The one piece of the windshield system that hasn't been heated (until recently) has been the fluid itself. In a new development (the HotShot system), an aftermarket product has been developed that heats the wiper fluid before it is sprayed on the windshield. The fluid is heated via the electrical system of the car (not the battery). The upside of this option is that the heated fluid helps remove dead bugs and dirt more efficiently--all year! The downside of this option is the cost (~$500 for a kit, plus installation fees). For more information go to www.microheat.com.

Take a look at other special windshield options