5 Reasons to Regularly Change Your Windshield Wipers

You usually only think about windshield wipers when you’re in the middle of a downpour and need them to help you see. However, these unsung heroes are a vital part of helping you stay safe on the road. If it has been a while since you’ve changed your windshield wipers, learn more about the important reasons why you should.

Improve Your Visibility

While you might not always have to deal with snow, everyone has to drive through hazardous rainy conditions. The Federal Highway Administration notes that 70% of weather-related crashes occur on wet pavement and 46% happen during rainfall. Your wipers work hard to keep your windshield clear during these conditions. Unfortunately, all this work means that, over time, they’ll start to wear down and leave smudges and streaks on your windshield that can make visibility even worse.

Protect Your Windshield

Windshield wipers use rubber blades on metal arms to push snow and rain off your windshield. Over time, the rubber can wear down and expose the metal arm. If this metal comes into contact with your windshield, it can scratch the glass. These scratches can eventually develop into deep grooves, and your only option is to replace the entire windshield. This can cost between $100 and $400 or more. Simply replacing your wiper blades can prevent this type of damage from occurring.

Wipers Deteriorate

Between regular use and the sun beating down on them, the rubber on your windshield wipers will eventually deteriorate. If you’d rather not wait until you’re driving in the rain to find out your blades need to be replaced, you can easily give them a visual inspection to find out. Every few months, lift the wipers away from the windshield and run your finger along the edge. If you can feel any bumps or tears in the rubber, you know it’s time to replace your blades.

Easy to Do

Replacing windshield wiper blades is so easy, you’ll be able to do it yourself even if you have no car knowledge. You’ll first want to measure your blades to get the right size. It’s important to note that driver side and passenger side blades are sometimes different lengths. When you’re ready to pick out your blades, you’ll discover a variety of options. The most common blades are frame-style wipers. However, you might also see beam-style wipers that have a one-piece design and winter wiper blades that have a protective rubber shell.

Relatively Inexpensive

Depending on the type you get, windshield wiper replacement blades typically cost between $10 and $50. When you consider the cost of replacing a damaged windshield or the medical expenses you could incur if you’re in an accident because of poor visibility, regularly replacing your wipers is pretty inexpensive. You should consider changing your wipers every six to 12 months. If you have a rear wiper, don’t forget to change it when you replace the front wipers.

Now that you know how important your wipers are, you can make sure you’ll have no problems seeing out of your windshield by regularly changing your wiper blades.