Fix Windshield Chip in Fall Not Winter

You have a chip in your windshield and are of the mind to put off mending it? Or perhaps you are left to wonder if a bit of a star-shaped crack is something to be concerned with at present, lest it make its move when the mercury falls.

It is the right season to be asking such questions. We at Auto Glass on the Move have been in the business of repairing windshields in the East Bay from 1979 onward; we will be the first to say what you put aside in October is likely to be an expensive full replacement come January. Give us a ring at (510) 616-4678 to have it seen to before the cold makes an appearance.

Timing is Critical

The mechanics of how a minor chip can become a major one in winter are simple. Warmth makes glass expand, cold has it contract. There is already a stress line where a chip is and that is where the windshield will yield to a change in temperature. In the Bay Area fall days are cool in the morning and warm by afternoon so the glass is flexing on a daily basis.

Then there are the usual winter time things that compound the risk:

• Running the defroster up high on a cold windshield
• Using warm water to get rid of frost in a hurry
• The rough roads and potholes that wet weather puts in place
• A hard slam of the door putting pressure through the cabin
• An overnight in Concord or the Lamorinda hills during a cold spell

One of these will be enough to send a chip into a running crack. When a crack has gone the distance or made it to the edge of the glass there is no repairing it, only replacing it.

Windshield Replacement Facts

Replacement is neither as fast nor as economical as a repair. To replace a windshield is to take it out and put in a new one, and with some of the newer cars you have to recalibrate the sensors and cameras in the process. A chip repair is a quick affair, it fills in the damage and contains it. You are better off staying in the realm of a repair. Waiting for winter has a way of putting you in the other camp where it costs more and takes more of your time. We do both but most would rather fix a chip.

And for many in the East Bay, the insurance side of it is a matter of little out of pocket expense. Rock chips, vandalism, the like are a no-fault claim under comprehensive coverage and don’t tend to put your premiums up. As an approved vendor for LYNX, Safelite (SGN), Enterprise and just about every major auto insurer we can handle the claim for you directly. Something a lot of the local shops can not say. If cost has been the reason for the delay, call (510) 616-4678 and we will explain your coverage.

Where We Serve

We are happy to come to you anywhere in the East Bay, be it Oakland, Berkeley, Walnut Creek, San Ramon or in between. Our fully equipped mobile units are dispatched all over Alameda and Contra Costa Counties so there is no need to reorganize your week. The service is free in that we do not add a charge for coming to your home or office, though we don’t give free estimates.

About Us

Drivers have their reasons for putting their trust in Auto Glass on the Move. Independently owned and run by a family out of Oakland since 1979, we are among the oldest in the East Bay. We are licensed (California Automotive Repair Dealer #297376) and our installers are certified to OEM standards. The glass we use is to the Department of Transportation’s approval and we do our own ADAS recalibration in house. On top of a 100% satisfaction guarantee we back our workmanship with a lifetime warranty for the life of the vehicle.

Our hours are 8:00am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 3:00pm on Saturday and 9:00am to 12:00pm on Sunday.

Let us repair the chip today at (510) 616-4678 before the first cold morning of winter has the last word on it.