Signs Your Car's Windscreen Is Developing a Stress Crack

If we asked you what causes windscreen stress cracks what would you say? Stray stones from the highway? Loose objects from a truck? Both of these can cause cracks, it’s true, but there are other things that cause stress cracks and the good news is, they’re things that are preventable. Here’s the Road Runner Windscreens guide to understanding whether your windscreen could be developing a stress crack. 

What is a windscreen stress crack?

A windscreen stress crack is what happens when the internal layer of your windscreen is damaged. This leaves your windscreen vulnerable to further damage and even collapse. These cracks often start at the outer edge of the windscreen and can appear for no apparent reason, which makes them difficult to anticipate. The key to understanding whether your car windscreen is at risk of developing a stress crack is to understand the main causes, and how to minimise the possibility.

1. Temperature shift

Fluctuation in temperature is a major cause of windscreen stress cracks. If you tend to leave your car outside and it’s a blazing hot day, be cautious about maxing up your air-con. The sudden change in temperature could cause a stress crack. The same is true in reverse – fight that instinct to whack the heating up on a chillier day.

A windscreen is only as good as its installation. If your windscreen is poorly installed to start with, then you are immediately at greater risk of stress cracks developing. Always choose a reputable and experienced company to install your car's windscreen. 

It happens to the best of us and windscreens suffer from wear and tear like any other part of your vehicle. If you suspect loose sealant or any other weakness, pop along to a professional windscreen company to get things checked out. 

We all love to have a good singalong or tap the wheel to our favourite tunes but did you know that excess sound can cause damage to your windscreen? Playing music at excessive levels can make existing stress cracks worse, and in extreme cases cause them to occur. 

As well as paying attention to all the causes described above there are a few extra things you can do to keep your windscreen stress crack-free. 

• Use a windscreen cover – this will help keep the temperature even 
• Consider tinting – this can help reduce overheating and strengthen glass
• Take care when using heating or air-con. A few moments of letting your car acclimatise can save a whole heap of hassle. 
• Get on to repairs as soon as you see them – it’s tempting to leave a small chip or crack, but swift action will reduce the chance of further damage. 
• Choose a reputable windscreen repair company.