You’re driving home on a rainy evening. Raindrops pound against your windshield. There’s heavy traffic ahead of you. Your windshield wipers streak, leaving smears across your line of sight. For a split second, you can barely see the car in front of you.
If your windshield wipers are old, streaking, or barely clearing the glass, you may be putting yourself and everyone in your car at risk.
The good news is replacing your windshield wiper blades is one of the fastest services you can add on to your oil change at Strickland Brothers 10 Minute Oil Change.
Why Old Windshield Wipers Put You at Risk
Windshield wiper blades crack, warp, and peel over time. When this happens, they stop pushing water away in clean swipes and smear moisture across your windshield. They leave behind streak marks, water spots, and debris, making it dangerous and difficult to see the road ahead.
Old wipers can distort your depth perception, especially at night when oncoming headlights reflect off the moisture. Poor visibility becomes even more dangerous in rainy or snowy weather, increasing your risk of an accident when you can’t see clearly ahead.
If your wipers don’t clear your windshield in a smooth swipe, you may not spot hazards in time to react, brake, merge, or avoid obstacles like stopped vehicles or icy patches.
Signs You Need a Wiper Replacement
How do you know when to replace wiper blades? Don’t wait until a storm to test your wipers. Here are common signs your wiper blades need to be replaced:
- Streaking: When your wipers leave streaks or smears, they let moisture linger on your windshield instead of clearing it with a clean swipe.
- Squeaking: A squeaking, chattering, or skipping noise shows that the blades aren’t making full contact with your windshield.
- Splits, cracks, or hardness: Check to see if there are any spots on your wipers where the rubber is split, cracked, or feels firm. Exposure to sunlight, heat, and cold weather naturally wears down wipers over time.
- Bends: A bent frame prevents the blade from cleaning your windshield properly.
- Reduced visibility in wet conditions or at night: Even if your wipers can handle a light drizzle, they need to be replaced if they can’t clear rain, debris, or snow or leave a hazy residue at night.
Stay Safe While Driving in Rain or Snow
Seeing clearly keeps you safe on the road during rain or snow. Before you head out in wet or winter weather, run through this quick mental checklist:
- Do your wipers clear water and debris in one pass? They should glide smoothly and leave no streaks.
- Do you hear unusual sounds when they run? Squeaking, chattering, or scraping noises are red flags.
- Have temperatures recently hit freezing or high heat? Extreme weather shortens the life of your wiper blades.
- Is your washer fluid spraying evenly? Good visibility relies on both proper fluid and effective wipers to break down road grime and salt.
- How do you know when your wipers need to be replaced? You need to replace most wipers every six to 12 months, depending on your climate and driving conditions.
Protect Yourself on the Road with New Wiper Blades
You can protect yourself when driving in rain or snow by replacing your windshield wipers. Strickland Brothers 10 Minute Oil Change offers this as a quick add-on service when you are already in for an oil change.
You can stay in your car the entire time and drive away knowing you are ready for whatever weather comes your way. The next time you need an oil change, visit a location near you and ask about our add-on service for windshield wiper blade replacement.
