I came back from a four day trip to Cleveland and wanted to clean the last of the pollen (hopefully) from my car. I got in, and it was obviously really hot (nobody had rolled down the windows for me when it was 90+ every day I was gone) and I had kept them up because it said a possibility of rain the night I had left...anyways I move the car near the hose so I can spray it off and i didn't notice anything on the windshield. I briefly sprayed off my car with the hose and when I got back in the car I saw a huge crack going from the very top of the passenger side to about half the way down the windshield (about 18") I assume this happened because the very hot windshield came in contact with cold water but I had never heard of this before and i was wondering if any of you in CA and AZ etc where it's hot all the time have experienced this? In MA there is no charge for glass replacement of any kind and I already set up an appointment for a glass company to come replace it for free in the garage at work tomorrow so I don't even have to drive anywhere.

 

Yes great way to crack glass, heat it up then hit it with cold water, or A/c for that matter.

I was told you could crack the glass in the summer by the pressure difference as well. Nice cold car, windows up and then heat it too fast inside can crack the glass. Especially if there is already a weak spot.

I worked at a restaurant in college, and you could easily crack the glasses by taking them out of the hot dishwasher and then putting in some ice cold Pepsi. Instant crack in the base! Glass will hold heat very well, so the cold contracts it too fast, and you crack.

 

I live in CA and have never heard of this happening. I lived up north in Sacramento where it can get upto 110 and never had this problem.

Sorry to hear about your window.

 

Wow that does really stink, but I'm not surprised for the same reasons VQ said

Thats awesome that you can get ure windshield replaced for free though, do u know how can I find out if a place does it in NJ?

 

I would just call your insurance agency and ask them.

I just called my insurance agency and they asked
1. Date it ocurred
2. Size of crack

Insurance company will call another safety insurance company in charge of glass insurance claims who will then call the glass shop of your choice or call one if you don't prefer any and they set up the job with the shop who then calls you to set up an appointment time. I called this morning and everything got done in a matter of 25 minutes (going through all three companies) and I got an appointment time for first thing tomorrow morning which I found to be quite a good surprise.

Right when I called my insurance company they told me that it indeed costs no money to replace glass in MA and that they would set up everything for me and give me a call back when all the transactions are complete. 25 minutes later the glass shop called my cell phone and confirmed the address that they will be going to first thing tomorrow morning.

 

UPDATE: They just called me and said there was a cancellation and that they are on their way right now. I'm amazed by the speed at which this job was completed by all three companies.

 

i've never heard of this happening in socal, that's funny.