An auto glass warranty is a selling point when you are looking for a windshield replacement. You can’t drive with a cracked or chipped windshield — it’s a safety hazard. Not only does it obstruct vision, it weakens the frame of your vehicle and puts you at risk of roof collapse in the event of a rollover accident.

When it’s time for a replacement windshield, what are you looking for from your new auto glass?

Top Priority: Find an Experienced Installer

One of the most important factors to consider when you need a new windshield is the qualifications and skill of the installer. It takes specialized training and certification to place and secure a windshield correctly — it’s not a DIY repair.

Ask for the company’s references and always check past reviews to ensure others had a positive experience. At Glasshopper Auto Glass, we make premium service affordable for all, and we treat your car like our own.

Ask About Parts Quality

Next, make sure your installer is using original engine manufacturer (or OEM) parts to replace the windshield that’s expired. Aftermarket parts that aren’t specifically designed for the vehicle will be weaker and leave you and your passengers vulnerable. OEM windshields must meet all federal safety standards — it’s your best bet.

Every Installer Is Different

While some installers will offer a warranty on the installation, usually this means the auto glass warranty covers their workmanship. They will guarantee that the windshield will not fail for a certain amount of time as a result of their work.

For the most part, high-quality OEM windshields won’t fail if they were installed properly. For example, if your installer takes the time to seal the edges with the right caulking, you will not see rainwater infiltrate the vehicle.

There Are Always Exceptions

No auto glass warranty covers future damage to the windshield. If you begin driving the next day and a rock flies up and chips the glass, it’s simply bad luck. While many insurance policies offer add-ons for windshield replacement, make sure you always find out if a repair is possible before you assume you need a replacement. Sometimes small chips or cracks can be repaired, depending on their depth and length.

Call Us Today

Glasshopper Auto Glass offers mobile windshield repair service. Not only does this save you time, but you get high-quality installation from an established, experienced, professional team.

Glasshopper Auto Glass has your best interests in mind, and we’re open to sharing all the information you need about our auto glass warranty, both parts and workmanship. We are dedicated to excellence, and we’re ready to repair and replace your windshield whenever you call.

Your auto glass is more important than you might recognize, at least until it cracks. Once it chips and the spider web of splintered glass starts obstructing your view, your windshield quickly becomes your top priority.

But be careful about the type of new windshield you install — you could wind up with something that isn’t durable, effective or safe, and it could create more problems than it solves. What do you need to know before you get a new windshield?

What’s Special About Your Windshield?

In modern vehicles, a windshield isn’t just a way to protect you from road debris and keep out precipitation. Often, it’s a key piece of your electric systems.

Many modern windshields have embedded radio antennas, cameras and rain sensors. If you replace your car’s original windshield with low-grade auto glass, you’ll no longer have the use of many of your vehicle’s features.

If you want to know the specifications your windshield must have in order to fully integrate with your vehicle, check your owner’s manual before scheduling a replacement.

Pitfalls of Subpar Auto Glass

Original equipment manufacturer parts (OEM) and original equipment equivalents (OEE) are the only two types of auto glass you should install in your vehicle. These designations mean the glass will meet federal safety guidelines for windshield manufacturing, a feature that’s non-negotiable.

Your windshield is part of your vehicle’s structural integrity. It’s what helps keep the roof from collapsing in a roll-over accident. Thus, safety standards are essential to auto glass manufacturing. Your safety isn’t worth the lower cost of subpar auto glass!

Low-quality auto glass might not have adequate solar protection, and you could experience an unusually high interior vehicle temperature as a result. It might even bubble over time.

What Assurances Do You Have?

Beyond just the quality of the windshield itself, you must ensure you’re investing in professional installation. The method used to anchor a new windshield into place directly influences its performance and longevity. From the type of adhesive used to their specific certifications, fully investigate the track record of the company you hire to take care of your new windshield installation.

Also, you use an installer that offers a guarantee on their services and a material warranty. Reputable companies usually offer a lifetime warranty on defects — that’s how confident they are that their product and installation service will be successful for your vehicle.

Why Trust Glasshopper?

Regardless of whether we’re installing a new windshield at your gym parking lot, in your office building garage or at home in your driveway, you’re getting the same high-level service and high-quality auto glass every time. It’s why Glasshopper is Utah’s trusted windshield replacement service provider, and it’s why you should call us today if you spot windshield damage.

Is windshield repair on your to-do list? Maybe you noticed a small chip in your line of sight. Maybe your windshield has a crack that’s been growing, but you’ve been putting off the service call.

Is it because you’ve fallen for one of these common windshield repair myths? You wouldn’t be alone. Many vehicle owners believe the following four “facts,” but they aren’t facts at all!

Top Myth: Placing a Claim Bumps up Your Insurance Payment

The biggest misconception about windshield repair is that you’ll automatically have to pay a higher insurance policy premium next year if you put in a claim. Yes, if you put in multiple accident reports involving high-cost repairs, this might be the case. In reality, most insurance companies don’t hike up your rates for something as minor as a windshield repair. After all, they know you can switch companies for a better rate at any time!

However, if your auto glass claim is one of many indications that you’re not the best, safest driver, the odds may not be in your favor. But if it’s the only interaction you’ve had with your insurance company over the course of your policy, they probably won’t count it against you.

And as always, explore the cost of paying for the repair out of pocket. That might be your best bet, just to be safe!

Myth #2: You Can Replace it Yourself

Unless you have the right tools and training, you cannot replace a car windshield on your own — it won’t provide a safe resolution.

The windshield is integral to the vehicle’s structural integrity. It’s what keeps the roof supported in the event of an accident. It’s not a job you want to trust to an amateur (aka, you!).

Myth #3: ANY Auto Glass Damage Requires Windshield Replacement

Just because you have a chip in your windshield does not mean you need to have it replaced. It’s possible to repair auto glass in its early stages of damage, but only if it’s caught before it spreads. Windshield repair is faster and just as effective if it’s done right.

Myth #4: All Auto Glass Repair Companies Are the Same

When you finally make the decision to call for windshield repair, do you plan on just searching online for the first company that shows up, or flipping open the phone book to see what’s closest?

Be careful — not all auto glass repair companies are the same. While one may use a high-quality replacement product, another may use aftermarket auto glass, which may not fit or function as well. And not all repair shops come to you. But here at Glasshopper, your safety and convenience are our two top priorities.

Glasshopper Auto Glass offers mobile windshield repair for when those chips and cracks start adding up and you know driving around with broken auto glass isn’t an option! Call today to set up your appointment.

Auto glass damage isn’t the end of the world, but it’s a problem you’d rather not have.

If you’re in a car accident, your first instinct is to make sure no one is hurt. Then you likely worry about the car’s body and engine. You’re right to prioritize your concerns this way, but don’t forget about your windshield. It’s common for auto glass damage to go unnoticed in the aftermath of a car accident, and this can present problems down the road.

Fender Benders: Potentially Fatal for Your Windshield

Since your attention is on physical and mechanical car damage after a collision, you may not be as worried about what you might consider superficial or aesthetic damage. The issue? Your windshield isn’t just for looks, or for you to look out of; it’s key to the structural integrity of your vehicle. If it’s been weakened, your car is at a higher risk of collapse if it were to be involved in another accident.

Collision is one of the top causes of windshield damage, so it’s imperative that your mechanic closely inspect your windshield after any car accident, no matter how minor.

Look for Hairline Cracks

The first place to start when looking for auto glass damage is where the windshield meets the frame of the car. It’s possible for hairline cracks to develop in this area, and cracks that reach the frame’s edge can quickly grow if they go unnoticed.

After any impact, check around the edges of the windshield for damage that’s not apparent at first glance.

When it Signals Something Worse

It could be tempting to forego reporting a minor fender bender to your insurance company, especially if there wasn’t much damage. Maybe you’d rather avoid the claims process and not have the record on your insurance, and no one blames you! However, there is always the risk that the damage that goes unnoticed after a minor accident could point to something more serious that you can’t repair cheaply.

For example, a windshield that developed hairline cracks upon impact may look perfectly fine, but those hairline cracks arose because the collision bent the car’s frame. Do you want to wait weeks or months to discover this damage, then have to explain to your insurance company that you never filed a claim?

By investigating the details and determining the source of damage to your car — even minor auto glass damage — you’re protecting yourself from bigger, more expensive repairs.

Call Glasshopper Auto Glass

Call Glasshopper Auto Glass right away if you notice auto glass damage after a collision. We can come to you and make fast, expert repairs that get your car back in safe condition.

The windshield is what stands between you and the wind, bugs and weather. Did you also know it could prevent your vehicle’s roof from collapsing in the event of a crash? You might not notice it much (unless it’s dirty), but that transparent shield is necessary to the safe operation of your motor vehicle!

Since replacing your windshield can be a bother and an expense, we’ve compiled a five-point checklist to help you keep your auto glass clean, strong and functional.

#1: Replace Your Wipers

Your windshield wipers touch the windshield most often. Because of this, it’s important that you check them periodically for peeling rubber and rusting. Most manufacturers recommend replacing them every six months.

Make it a habit to look them over every time you change your oil, or every three months, and if you see wear and tear, purchase and install a new set stat to avoid scraping your auto glass.

#2: Use a Plastic Ice Scraper

Sometimes vehicle owners use metal scrapers to clean ice from their vehicles during the winter. This is a definite no-no! You want to keep metal away from your auto glass (this is why you need to replace wipers before the rubber comes off). Replace any metal scraper with a plastic one to protect your windshield.

#3: Keep the Glass Clean

When the windshield is dirty, your wipers need to work twice as hard to get it clean, and this can lead to faster wear and torn rubber, which can then expose metal that scrapes the glass. Show your windshield some love by taking it to the car wash or scrubbing it gently in your own driveway with manufacturer-approved windshield cleaner.

#4: Fill Your Washer Fluid

Keep your washer fluid reservoir full so your windshield wipers can wipe away the debris on your auto glass. Wipers set in motion without cleaning fluid can grind dirt into the glass.

#5: Get Chips and Cracks Repaired Immediately

Notice a chip or a crack? The most urgent type of windshield damage is a crack that is longer than 6 inches or reaches the edge of the windshield, touching the vehicle’s frame. But realistically, all types of windshield damage merit quick repairs, so place your call to Glasshopper Auto Glass as soon as you notice a problem.

Maybe your experience with other auto glass repair providers wasn’t great — they showed up late or not at all, or made you come to them. You don’t have to worry about these concerns when you trust Glasshopper Auto Glass. We make windshield repair convenient, and best of all, we make it affordable. Contact us today for a free quote!

Do you have to replace your windshield if it has only one small chip? What if there are two or three? When does windshield damage cross the line into dangerous or illegal territory?

Car owners should be aware of what’s safe and what isn’t when it comes to auto glass repair. Too often it’s assumed that it’s OK to drive around with a few chips in your windshield, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your view.

Regardless of how it affects visibility, windshield damage of any level is a threat to your safety and should be repaired.

Your Windshield Is Part of Your Vehicle’s Structure

The windshield is a key component in protecting your car’s roof from caving in if you are in a serious accident. It supports the vehicle’s structure. When your windshield is damaged, it’s more susceptible to further cracking.

When Is One Small Chip Too Dangerous?

Even one chip has to be repaired. Otherwise, it can quickly turn into a larger crack the moment you drive on rough gravel or hit a pothole.

Most chips can be repaired, as long as they are smaller than a few inches and they aren’t located in the driver’s line of sight or near the edge of the windshield. You should know that many experts recommend that you replace your windshield once it has three or more cracks or chips, to ensure the continued safety of you and your passengers.

Location Will Determine Repair or Replacement

Talk to a qualified auto glass repair technician before you assume that a repair will do the job. With many windshield chips, it comes down to the location. Since repairing a chip could leave behind a slight imperfection, many technicians with experience will tell car owners to replace the glass if the chip interferes with driver visibility.

Also, if the chip is close to the edge of the windshield, replacement is probably the best bet, since these chips are more likely to turn into cracks that spread to the frame’s edge, weakening the entire windshield.

Trust the Experts at Glasshopper

Time is of the essence when your windshield is damaged. Temperature fluctuations and less-than-favorable driving conditions can make auto glass damage worse.

When is it time to repair or replace your windshield? The experts at Glasshopper Auto Glass have the answer. Call us today to schedule your mobile windshield repair or replacement and we will come to you!

When you need windshield repair in winter, a number of factors come into play that you don’t have to worry about during other times of the year. The top two issues repair technicians agree upon are temperature and moisture.

Winter precipitation and rock-bottom temperatures can make it harder to execute an effective windshield repair, but it’s not impossible. In fact, sometimes it’s necessary to get windshield repair in winter, and your vehicle is in good hands at Glasshopper Auto Glass. Our repair shop is experienced in resolving all auto glass problems throughout the year.

Moisture Be Gone!

When repairing a chip or crack, your technician will make it their first priority to remove all moisture from the damaged area. Leaving moisture behind makes it harder for repair material to bond with the auto glass. If moisture is trapped within the windshield, freezing temperatures can cause this moisture to freeze and expand. It will put internal pressure on the auto glass and can lead to additional cracks and damage.

Warming Up the Windshield Is Vital

Secondly, your windshield can’t be frozen — we have to warm it up before we start the repair process. The best way to do this is by starting the car and using the defroster. As the car’s engine warms up, so will the air, gradually warming up the glass in preparation for repair.

Choose the Right Products

Windshield repair in winter requires a specific type of repair product. One of the most important features of any repair product is its curing time. Cold weather extends the time it takes for resin to cure, so it’s important to use a product that cures quickly.

During the curing process, the windshield must maintain an even temperature, so we may do the repair indoors to control the climate.

Should You Wait until Spring?

Many vehicle owners ask us if it’s better to wait until the weather warms up to get windshield repair. We firmly say, “No!” every time. A damaged windshield puts your safety at risk. If you were to get into an accident, your car’s frame wouldn’t be as strong, putting it at risk of collapse. Also, winter is one of the key times you need maximum visibility, and a cracked windshield interferes with this, obstructing your view of the road.

For all these reasons, and because of our capabilities in cold weather, we highly suggest scheduling windshield repair in winter with Glasshopper Auto Glass.

When you get your windshield replaced, you want to be sure your new auto glass is secure. You trust your installer to use the right technique and follow manufacturer guidelines, but what if they make a mistake along the way?

Unfortunately, when windshields aren’t installed correctly, it puts your safety at risk. The windshield helps maintain the integrity of your vehicle’s frame and prevents roof collapse in the event of an accident.

If you notice any of these six signs that your new windshield isn’t installed correctly, make sure you take action right away:

1. Water Leaks Around the Edges

When it rains or you take your vehicle through the car wash, you may notice water seeping in around the edges of the windshield. Maybe it’s only a few drops, but still, that’s a leak, and it’s a sure sign your windshield wasn’t installed correctly.

 2. You Hear a Whooshing Sound at High Speed

You know that subtle yet annoying sound of whistling air when your car picks up speed?

You might commonly associate it with a window that was left open a crack. If it’s coming from your windshield, though, you have a problem. The sound might be quiet or it could be dramatic; either way, it’s a sign of poor windshield installation.

3. The Glass Looks Wavy

The easiest way to spot a subpar windshield is to look at it in direct sunlight. Does the glass look smooth? Is the view clear?

If there are any bumps, imperfections or waves that affect your visibility, it’s indicative of low-quality auto glass.

4. It’s Not Flush with the Car’s Frame

When the windshield pokes out noticeably and doesn’t sit smoothly within the frame, that’s another sign of a problem. Probably the glass doesn’t fit quite right — your previous installer chose the wrong windshield.

5. You Hear Rattling Noises

Does your windshield rattle or shake when you go over a bump? If you hear any strange noises, it’s probably because your windshield is loose in its frame.

6. The Old Adhesive Is Still There

At each auto glass replacement, the previous molding should be scraped away and new adhesive installed. If your installer added new adhesive on top of old and just plopped a new windshield in, your windshield won’t be weatherproof.

Give Us a Call

You can book an appointment with Glasshopper Auto Glass fast, and the best part is we come to you. We can meet you at home, work or school and take care of the replacement right way. For fast, convenient repairs, contact Glasshopper.

A rear window replacement requires the assistance of a technician with auto glass repair experience, but the project is a little different than a front windshield replacement.

When your rear window shatters, maybe you assume it will cost the same and take the same amount of time to repair as a front windshield. While this could be the case, it also may not.

The materials and labor are different for rear window replacement. Why?

The Results Are Similar

Maybe it was a rock, piece of a tire, block of wood, flying landscaping tool, baseball or a falling branch. Whatever the cause, your back window is broken and now you have crumbled glass everywhere and a cold draft. You need to get it fixed stat, especially before it starts to rain (or snow).

The difference with windshields is, they don’t shatter. And by law, you don’t have an option — you have to get your broken windshield repaired right away or you could get ticketed. It’s a safety concern.

A back window is also a safety concern, but it’s less likely the police will notice. And the comfort factor is more of an issue — you can’t drive around with a broken window in winter!

If you got a quote from an auto glass professional, the projected invoice might have looked different than what you’re used to, and you may wonder why.

Rear Windows Are Made of Different Glass

Windshields are made of safety glass. This is glass that has been laminated and joined with another piece of glass, with a film of vinyl in between. It will never shatter in a crash.

Rear windows are made of tempered glass — glass that has been heated to extremely high temperatures then rapidly cooled. This process makes it much stronger than any other type of non-tempered glass. Tempered glass won’t shatter either — it will crumble. There won’t be any jagged edges to deal with, just tiny sand-like crumbs that will get everywhere.

So since you’re paying for a different type of glass, the price will be different.

Defrost Grids Are Needed

If your rear window has a defrost grid that’s connected to your car’s heating system, the technician will have to install this as well. This process can add to the cost of rear window replacement.

Your Car Needs a Cleanup Too

Typically, auto glass technicians include cleanup in their quote so you don’t have to go searching for tiny bits of glass throughout your car.

Need Help?

Glasshopper Auto Glass is here for you when rear window replacement is necessary. Contact us today to get a quote for your car.

A scratched windshield is more than a nuisance; it’s a danger. If your vision is obstructed in any way, it poses a risk to you, your passengers and other motorists on the roadway.

Is it possible to fix a scratched windshield without replacing it? If the scratch isn’t too long or too deep, the answer is yes.

But when is a quick fix is possible, and can you do it yourself?

Minor vs. Major Scratches

First, you must determine the depth of the scratch before deciding if a DIY repair will work.

Run your fingers over the edge of the scratch. Does your fingernail catch in the indent? If so, this scratch is too deep for an amateur repair. Contact a repair professional like Glasshopper Auto Glass to help. Deep cracks require immediate attention, as they can quickly spread and threaten the integrity of the windshield and the vehicle.

But if the scratch is smooth to the touch, you can likely use an affordable auto glass repair kit to buff it out.

Compound Glass Repair

You can find auto glass scratch repair kits at most auto body or hardware shops. Look for a kit that uses a compound with the active ingredient cerium oxide. This is the chemical that helps bond the compound with the auto glass.

Wash, Apply, Rinse, Dry, Polish

Follow the instructions in the auto glass repair kit. It will likely tell you to wash your windshield first with soap and water. Once the glass is clean, apply the compound to the scratch using a cloth. Rub it completely into the damaged area.

Next, rinse the scratch with water to remove any excess compound. Dry the entire windshield.

After allowing the glass to sit for at least 30 minutes, it’s time to restore the entire windshield to a full shine. Rub polish in circular motions, wipe the excess away and let it dry.

When You Need Professional Help

Glasshopper Auto Glass can provide the help you need when an at-home fix won’t work for your scratched windshield. If it’s possible to safely and effectively repair the scratch and preserve the windshield’s structural integrity, we’ll do it. Otherwise, we can replace your windshield quickly and affordably to make sure you aren’t at risk on the roadways. Contact us today to schedule mobile service with your friendly local auto glass repair experts.