5 Signs It's Time To Trade Your Blades

It’s pretty easy to take your windshield wipers for granted. When they’re working properly, you don’t think twice about them. But from the moment you hear that first squeak across the glass, or notice streaks of water left directly in your field of vision, you become fixated. It’s kind of like having a cold. You never fully appreciate being able to breathe easily until you find yourself totally, and completely congested. 

Although small and seemingly unimportant, your windshield wipers play a critical role in your vehicle’s safety. These thin rubber blades are what keep you seeing clearly while you’re on the road, so it’s essential that you ensure your wiper blades are in tip top shape, all year long. 

There are a variety of factors that contribute to how often you’ll need to change your vehicle’s wiper blades. Everyday use, regular wear and tear, exposure to harsh weather and extreme temperatures, road debris, and even the sun’s ultraviolet rays will eventually cause the rubber to degrade and become less effective over time. It’s recommended that you change your windshield wipers every 6-12 months, so we put together a list of the signs you should look for to know when it’s time to trade your blades. 

Streaking
If your wiper blades are leaving behind more water than they’re clearing, they’re due for a change. After months of exposure, your wiper’s rubber will become hard and crack over time. Water will remain after each pass, with streaks becoming more prominent as time goes by. 

Smearing
When the edges of your windshield wipers are no longer sharp, but rounded due to wear, your blades will smear water across your windshield rather than clearing it. This leads to a cloudy windscreen and impaired visibility.

Skipping
Have irregular, jittery movements become the norm for your wiper blades? If you find your windshield wipers constantly skipping, stuttering and vibrating their way across your windshield, it’s time for a replacement.  

Squeaking
Turning up the volume on your radio is NOT a solution to your wiper’s pesky squeaking problem. Squeaking occurs when the rubber portion of your blades has reduced contact with your windshield. What you’re hearing is the plastic portion of the arm being dragged back and forth across the glass. A bit of squeaking here and there is normal, but if the problem persists, you’re due for a new set of blades. 

Visible Damage
Have you noticed rust building up on the metal of your blades? Maybe the frame looks a little bent or misshapen, or the rubber is beginning to split and tear. If you can clearly see that your blades are damaged, you won’t be able to see anything clearly from within your vehicle.