Let me set the scene. It’s monsoon season in Arizona. The temperature is a cool 108°F. A powerful storm raged all around the valley last night. You know the kind of storm I’m talking about. The storm with rainfall that makes you look at your ceilings for leaks, with thunder that makes your house shake, and with lightning that makes the dark of night almost as bright as the day. This type of storm brings on a level of humidity that makes it hard to breath. We Arizonans can no longer say “Well…it’s a dry heat” during monsoon season.

Although some may enjoy the humidity, it can make driving difficult if it causes your windshield to fog up. Just as a chipped or cracked windshield can impair a driver’s ability to see while operating the vehicle, so can a windshield that’s fogged up from changes in the weather.

Causes of Windshield Fog.

As you know, one of the windshield’s functions is to act as a physical barrier between the weather and the outside environment and the interior of the car, including the driver and passengers. Because one side is affected by the temperature and elements outside the car, and the other side is affected by the temperature and elements inside the car, the windshield is often subject to fogging up during times when these two environments differ. To put it simply:

Warm humid air + contact with a cooler surface (aka windshield) = condensation (aka fog)

Foggy Windshield? Now what?!

Balancing out the environment inside the vehicle is the best way to get rid of a foggy windshield. How do we do this?

Activate those Windshield Wipers.

Turn on those windshield wipers of yours. Windshield wipers don’t just exist to get rid of that darn bird poop that always seems to land smack dab in the middle of your windshield. They are also there to help get rid of the condensation from the exterior of the windshield. This may be only a temporary fix as the windshield can fog back up, but it provides with a quick way to get some visibility back. So, spray some of that windshield wiper fluid on and turn those windshield wipers on low!

Turn your AC off.

What?! Yes, you read that right. Most people may hear this advice and think to themselves, “What crazy person would turn off their car’s air conditioner during summer?” I hear you. But, it’s not for forever. If you turn the AC off and crack your window for a few minutes, it helps provide balance between the outside air and the inside air, causing that fog to fade away. If you’re feeling crazy, you could even turn on the defrost button with a tad of heat to help adjust the interior environment to the outside.

Clean your Windshield.

In general, keeping your windshield clean on both the outside and inside surfaces, will help reduce potential fogginess. There are also anti-fog windshield sprays and automotive treatments available to further decrease the chances of fog developing.

Bottom Line.

Anything that can impair a person’s field of vision while driving can be dangerous. Whether it be from a chipped or cracked windshield or from a fogged-up windshield, visibility and a safe driving environment is of the utmost importance.

Chipped or Cracked Windshield?

Our goal at Auto Glass 2020 is to help keep your windshield in the best shape possible so you and your loved ones are safe while out on the roads. With a clean (and unfoggy) windshield, it is easier to monitor for any signs ofwindshield damage so you can get your windshield repaired or replaced in a timely manner. If you have any windshield damage that is impairing your ability to see clearly while driving, call Auto Glass 2020 today at (480) 283-7751 or get a quote here!