Driving conditions are always more hazardous in rainy or snowy weather, lowering both visibility and traction considerably.

Having a clear windshield is key for being able to drive safely, and windshield wipers are essential for keeping your vision clear. Any time your wipers do a poor job of neatly clearing your windshield, you know that they’re overdue for a replacement. The upside is that replacing your windshield wipers only takes minutes and is an affordable fix to a potentially dangerous situation. If you notice any of the following signs, you may need new wiper blades or a refill of your wiper blade fluid:

• Streaky residue across your windshield
• Skidding, or scraping sounds while wiper blades are in use
• Absence of fluid when needed

Never use your windshield wipers on an icy windshield. This can damage your wiper blades by scratching the blades on the ice. Scratches in the blades will cause a streaky, uneven swipe across your windshield while in use, which can be distracting while driving.

We recommend replacing your wiper blades at least once a year, as well as any time they begin to show signs of wear, so that you will be well prepared for any nasty weather.