How to Safely Remove Ice from Windshields

Glass Doctor has a better way to safely remove ice from windshields and auto glass. Gradually heat the glass from the inside while scraping and brushing ice from the outside.

1. Check to make sure no ice or snow is obstructing the vehicle’s tailpipe. If it is covered, the ice or snow must be removed to prevent the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning inside the vehicle.
2. If the car door is frozen shut with ice, pour cold water to gradually melt the ice and use a plastic ice scraper to carefully chip a crack in the ice around the door seal and the lock. Do not try to “unseal” the door by using a hair dryer, cigarette lighter, ice pick, screwdriver, propane torch or portable heater.
3. Start the vehicle and use the defroster setting to warm the glass. Wait at least five minutes for the car to start to warm up.
4. Use a plastic ice scraper and a soft plastic bristle brush or broom to clear the ice. A squeegee also helps.

There are de-icing products on the market that may shorten the time it takes to melt the ice, but they have mixed results. The most important thing is to plan some extra time to remove the ice before traveling. Glass Doctor can fix the glass if it breaks, but can’t fix people if they get hurt.

Ice Removal Myth #1 - Boiling Water

Myth: Pour hot water on the windshield and/or auto glass to melt the ice. Make sure to cover the ice completely.

Reality: It's not just the ice that's frozen, the glass is frozen as well. When an extreme temperature change happens, the glass shatters. The same thing can happen if you start your car, wait a couple minutes for it to warm up, and then turn the defroster on high heat full blast. The interior side of the glass is frozen too. This is especially true if there is already a chip in the windshield glass. That chip will run into a crack fast.

For all you science geeks, you probably know that glass is a unique state of matter, it is called a "liquid solid." That means even though it looks solid, it still has some properties of a liquid, especially expanding and contracting with the air temperature. Glass also has no insulating properties - it lets heat and cold pass right through. That's why your home can get condensation, because a single-pane window will have the same outside temperature on the inside. That cold temperature of the glass can take water vapor out of the indoor air and turn it into condensation on the glass. Double-pane insulated windows prevent condensation and save energy costs.

So you got a 2-for-1 deal today - you learned why windshields crack due to temperature changes and why single-pane windows produce condensation. As a full-service glass shop, Glass Doctor can help fix both of those panes.

Ice Removal Myth #3 - Metal Ice Scrapers

Myth: It's better to scrape ice off a windshield with a metal scraper, key, spatula, utility knife or crowbar.

Reality: The metal either scratches or cuts grooves in the glass. Plus metal can cut the person doing the scraping.