5 signs it’s time to change your wiper blades

A wiper blade is an accessory we tend not to pay much attention to. Meanwhile, poor visibility is an important factor increasing the risk of a road accident. Investing in high quality blades and changing them regularly can keep you and your family safer on the road. What’s more, it can save money in the long run. Here you’ll find 5 signs it’s time to change your wiper blades, as well as a few tips on how to choose a new wipers set best.

1.  Skipping 
If your wiper blades skip across the windshield instead of wiping the water away smoothly, it doesn’t mean it’s worn out – it’s rather a sign of not fitting tight. It happens often in hot and dry climate – the blade “freezes” in one position because of the sunlight and is not able to flip when the wiper changes the direction.
In that case, the replacement of blades is necessary. We advise installing the wipers composed of the mixture of natural and artificial rubber rather than the natural rubber wipers only. In comparison to its natural counterpart, artificial rubber is more resistant to sun damage and “setting”.

2.  Streaks 
The wipers leaving streaks on the windscreen may just need a cleaning with a soft cloth. However, if despite removing the dirt the streaking continues, this means the rubber element has worn out, meaning it needs to be replaced. Such defects occur often with the conventional wipers, where the pressure to the windshield surface ceases to be even.Where traditional wiper blades have only 4-8 pressure points, the flat blades, e.g. Valeo Silencio™ have hundreds of them. This guarantees the consistency of pressure along the entire length of the wiper blade.As a result the wipers work smoother, quieter and more consistently also at higher vehicle speeds and during intense use – so when we need them the most!

3.  Squeaking 
Apart from being annoying, squeaking may also mean the wipers have been ill chosen. Either they were fit incorrectly or the wiper arm doesn’t work properly. The wiper doesn’t fit the windshield evenly then, which causes incorrect performance.
The pressure of the blade arm needs to be checked in the first place and it should be adjusted if possible. If the problem still occurs, the wipers need to be replaced by the ones with higher parameters.

4.  Smearing 
Smearing may occur when your windscreen is too dirty to be cleaned by the rubber blade, such as the insects or grime. Such debris makes it impossible for the blade to fit the glass evenly, leaving the windscreen dirty and deteriorating visibility.
If smearing occurs even after you’ve cleaned the windscreen, it probably means the rubber element is damaged and it’s time to change your wipers.

5.  Damage 
Apart from all the signs above, any damages to the blades will affect their performance and the visibility. It’s most important to pay attention to the damages of the rubber elements, e.g. chipping caused by using on icy glass, mechanical peel off or detachment of the rubber element from the arm. The construction itself is also very important – bent or damaged wipers need to be replaced immediately.