Does your windshield tend to fog up like crazy after you’ve been driving for a few minutes? And no amount of defrost power or wiping with your jacket sleeve will solve the problem? It’s normal for windows to fog up periodically, especially when it’s super cold or wet outdoors, but that fog can really put your safety at risk. Luckily, it’s possible to remove windshield fog quickly, so you can see clearly while you’re on the road.
Keep scrolling to learn why your windshield repeatedly fogs and what you can do to remedy the problem.
Why Does Your Windshield Tend to Fog Up?
Foggy windows are a product of excessive moisture content and temperature fluctuations in the air inside your vehicle’s cabin. On cold days, any moisture inside your vehicle — whether that’s vapor from you and your passengers’ breath, snow on your clothing, etc. — is subject to something called the dew point. That’s the point at which ambient moisture changes state and turns into condensation.
When the moisture vapor in the air encounters the area near your windows (which is cooler than the air not near the windows) it condenses into teeny tiny droplets of water. You see those droplets as fog accumulating on the interior of your windshield and windows.
How to Quickly Remove Fog on Your Auto Glass When It’s Cold Outdoors
When the air outside your vehicle is colder than the air inside it, here’s what you can do to quickly remove any fog that forms on the interior of your windshield:
1. Crank your heater up to the warmest setting. Hot air holds more moisture than cold air, so it will keep the ambient moisture in a vapor state rather than allowing it to condense on your windows.
2. Turn your AC on. As the air inside your vehicle passes over the AC’s cooling coils, they’ll pull the moisture out of the air.
3. Turn off your recirculation button if it’s on. You want dry air coming into the cabin of your vehicle, but you won’t get that if you continue recirculating the air that’s already inside your ride.
4. If it’s not too cold, crack your windows a tiny bit. That’ll help exchange the humid air inside your ride for the cooler, dryer air outdoors.
Do you have trouble getting frost off your windshield when it’s freezing outdoors? If so, check out How To Defrost Your Windshield in Winter for helpful tips. For more useful advice, you’ll want to read up on the best way to get ice off your windshield, too.
How to Eliminate Windshield Fog When It’s Hot Outside
When it’s warmer outdoors than it is inside your vehicle, condensation will form on the exterior of your windshield rather than the interior. Here’s how to control its buildup and prevent it from happening in the first place:
1. Keep the recirculation setting off. When you’re dealing with considerable auto glass fog, always keep your recirculation setting off until you’ve equalized the moisture level inside and outside of your vehicle’s cabin.
2. Use your windshield wipers. While you’re working to balance out the temperature difference between the inside and outside of your ride, use your windshield wipers to wipe away any condensation that develops. You can also get specialized windshield wiper fluid that’s designed to help moisture bead on the glass, which may help prevent the problem from becoming severe.
3. Warm up your vehicle. If the interior of your ride is icy cold, you’ll need to warm it up to allow the exterior condensation to re-vaporize. Either turn your AC off or roll your windows down slightly to bring the interior temperature up.
Choose Only 1 Auto Glass for All Your Windshield Repairs Needs
At Only 1 Auto Glass, we understand windshield repairs aren’t exactly convenient for any vehicle owner, and that’s why, over the last 10+ years, it’s been our goal to change that. We have multiple auto glass repair shops throughout the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro and we offer highly convenient mobile repair and replacement service as well.
To learn more about what we can do for you or schedule a service appointment, feel free to give us a call today at 651-789-1111 or request an estimate online, and we’ll be in touch promptly.