Winter is here, which means defogging or defrosting a car before hitting the road are once part of many drivers’ daily routines. Although this can cause delays, especially for busy commuters, there are some quick ways to fight the elements and see through car windows clear as day.
Fortunately, defrosting or defogging car windows isn’t that difficult. You may even be surprised that there’s a couple of different ways to go about it. Here are some tips for automotive school students to learn with regards to defrosting and defogging windshields and car windows.
With Car Windows, the First and Easiest Way to Fight Frost Is with Heat
Turning on the heaters isn’t complicated, and it’s arguably the first strategy to try out for anyone who needs to defog their windows. After starting the engine and letting it run for several minutes, turn the heater up full-blast on the defrost setting, and leave the fan turned off. This is because hot air contains more moisture, so the heater should ideally be turned up to its maximum setting so that excess moisture can be absorbed. As the vehicle is heating up, turn on the defroster for the rear window and the windshield defog setting, before activating the fan while the vehicle is set at a warm temperature.
There are Ways You Can Defrost and Defog Windows Without Using Heat
No, really—as counterintuitive as this may seem, there are ways you can get the job done without heat. One way to do this is to turn on the A/C after having turned the heater on, as the A/C’s coils can help the air within the vehicle dry faster. Make sure air is recirculating so that dry air flows in the glass’ direction. After this, turn off air recirculation, so that you can then bring the outside winter air into the car to dry the saturated air inside the vehicle. This process can be expedited by cracking the windows. Students in automotive school should know that scraping the windshield and the windows will also help remove frost.
Automotive School Students Should Consider This Defrosting and Defogging Trick
These aren’t the only ways people with an auto mechanic career can try to defog or defrost vehicles—in fact, other strategies can also be effective. For example, defrosting windows can be done by combining a ⅓ cup of water and ⅔ cup of Isopropyl into a spray bottle, which can easily be used against windshield ice since the solution doesn’t freeze. The ice can evaporate quickly doing this, though it’s still worth using a scraper to get rid of excess ice. This is a more effective tool than splashing hot water onto the frozen windshield, which can otherwise cause cracks and may do more harm than good. Be sure the car is regularly waxed and washed if the solution is used on areas that have been painted, as it can cause the paint to erode.
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