Windshield Wipers

A windshield wiper, also called a windscreen wiper, is a device that helps remove debris and rain from a windshield. Almost every single motor vehicle, including cars, airplanes, and trains, are equipped with windshield wipers. The blade swings back and forth on the front windshield and pushes water from its surface. There are generally multiple speeds available, which can be used depending on the severity of the rain.

Brands

There are hundreds of different brands of windshield wipers, but one of the most popular brands is the Rain-X Latitude. These wipers are excellent at preventing snow and ice build-up, and the durable rubber on each wiper increases wiper flexibility, which is ideal for harsh conditions. They tend to last between nine and 18 months, depending on how often you are using them. Some tests, however, have shown that Rain-X wipers and Valeo (another popular brand) proved to be neither worse nor better than other brands that were tested.

Safety

Car safety is an important concern for every car owner, and ensuring your wiper blades are properly maintained is essential to making your car as safe as possible. Worn wiper blades can be dangerous, especially if you live in an area where poor weather, such as rain or snow, is common. If you are unable to clean your windshield properly, it can make it difficult to see the road clearly, which is certainly a safety hazard. Dirt, sunlight, oil, and other contaminants can all weaken your wiper blades’ ability to keep your view unobstructed, so it’s important to constantly check and clean your wipers.

Benefits

There are numerous benefits to having windshield wipers. In fact, it is illegal not to have windshield wipers on your vehicle, so whether you like them or not, you have to have them. They help keep your windshield clear, which is extremely important. This ensures maximum visibility, which is a huge benefit when driving in poor weather conditions, such as driving rain or raging snowstorms. Windshield wipers are also very cheap and easy to maintain, and even easier to replace if they do break or wear down.

Drawbacks

There are no real drawbacks to windshield wipers, except when they are damaged or worn down. Damaged windshield wipers can smear in both directions. This could be because you have a dirty wiper blade, or because you are using sub-par windshield wiper fluid. In cold weather, water may only smear in one direction, which is unavoidable. If this happens during regular weather however, your wipers are damaged and need to be replaced. Replacing your wiper blades regularly can help prevent these and other issues. It is recommended that you replace them at least once a year, maybe more if you live in areas that suffer from extreme weather.

Cost

Windshield wipers are relatively cheap and easy to replace, which means driving around with worn out or damaged wipers is inexcusable. The blades tend to cost somewhere between $5 and $10. This can run higher if you have an auto shop install them for you, but they are easy to install yourself which can help save on any potential labour costs.