Is it time for new wiper blades?

Wiper blades may not be the most exciting topic, but they are pretty important. Most of us have had an experience when a sudden snow or rain storm hits while we're driving; then when we turn on the wipers – nothing but streaks. This can be especially disconcerting at night when the glare of on-coming headlights distorts your vision.

The simple solution: change your wiper blades BEFORE they fail.

Inspect them every couple of months and test them just to see how they are working. Of course, the more you use your wipers, the sooner they'll wear out. For the average driver in New England, wiper blades have a useful life of about six months. Areas with lots of storms or those who drive a lot where there are bugs and road grime will use their blades more.

Even if you're not using your blades as much, they are exposed to sunlight, ice shards, ozone, soap, and extreme hot and cold temperatures which lead to deterioration. Your blades can just rot away and fall apart before you need them. Using your wipers when the blades are torn can lead to scratches in your windshield. Don't risk needing a windshield replacement over the cost of a couple of wiper blades.

Let's talk about wiper blade upgrades.

You can upgrade both the design and the wiper material. Traditional black rubber blades do a great job of clearing your windshield when they are new. Over time, all of the conditions mentioned above damage them and degrade their performance. Silicone blades are far less affected by environmental conditions and will simply perform better for a longer time.

There are two elements to the design. First, the wiper blade itself: Some have a single wiping edge. Others have multiple edges – kind of like a multi-blade razor. The idea is to maximize wiping power during both swipes of the blade.

The other design element is with the wiper frame. This is the structure that applies pressure on the blade as it passes over the windshield. A conventional frame has four to six contact points on the blade. These apply pressure used to clear water and snow. A beam frame provides uniform pressure along the entire surface of the wiper. Their shape catches the wind passing over the vehicle to provide additional downforce to help get a clean swipe. A hybrid frame has four to six contact points as with a conventional blade, but also incorporates an airfoil to provide additional downforce as with beam blades.

So which blade should you choose? Always use at least the grade and design that came with the vehicle from the manufacturer. Upgrade for better performance and longer lasting blades. The extra cost of premium blades is a good value for this safety system.

While you're at it, make sure you have plenty of windshield washer solvent (use a winter formulation when Hartford temps drop below freezing) and that your washer nozzles are working well. Talk with your friendly and knowledgeable Hillside Automotive Center service advisor about upgrading your wiper blades.