Summer heat can wreak havoc on a vehicle and its function. The warm weather, hot roads, extended trips, and dry air combine to create a hostile work environment for your car.

Windshield Wipers can get ruined by snow and ice in the winter.  But did you know that wiper blades can actually melt to your windshield in high heat in the summer?! The best way to prevent this is to put your wipers through a wipe-wash cycle from time to time.

Maintaining windshield wipers is a very important part of ongoing vehicle care. It’s also an item that is often overlooked, probably since it is not a part of the engine and mechanics of your vehicle.  But when the weather turns to rain, you’ll be quickly reminded of how important your wipers are; especially if they are not properly maintained.

When inspecting your wiper blades, here are a few things to look for:

• Broken frame – detachment of frame arms at joints or connection points.
• Metal Corrosion – especially at joints and claws.
• Visible cracks, tears, and missing pieces in the rubber squeegee’s edge.
• Flex rubber squeegee back and forth to see if it is still flexible. Aged squeegees will have difficulty conforming to the shape of your windshield and create streaks.
• Check squeegee wiping edge for rounded edges which can prevent the wiper blade from making strong contact with the windshield and reduces wipe quality.
• Tug to ensure wiper blade has been securely installed on the wiper arm.
• Check that squeegee is secure in the wiper frame.

Visibility is fundamental to safe driving. Although drivers depend on their vehicles’ wiper blades to clear away rain, sleet and snow, many wait to replace them until they need them the most. So remembering to maintain wiper blades regularly can maximize visibility, efficiency and reliability.

An easy way to remember to proactively change your wiper blades is to replace them on Groundhog Day. Whether the Groundhog predicts six more weeks of winter or an early spring, new wiper blades are necessary to prepare you for 6 weeks of harsh winter driving conditions or 6 weeks of Spring showers.

Your windshield wipers can be changed quickly and easily.  Here’s a quick how to:

1. Remove the old wiper. Lift the arm away from the windshield and depress the small tab on the underside of the wiper where it meets the arm.  Slide the wiper blade off the arm by pulling the center towards the bottom of the arm.
2. Line up the new wiper blade with the arm. Move the hook on the arm over the plastic clip on the new wiper blade.
3. Pull the wiper blade tight onto the arm. It will click into place, and simply lower the arm slowly back onto the windshield.
4. Repeat for the other wiper blade.