With the UK’s multiple heatwaves over the summer, Trico is highlighting the damage UV rays can do to wiper blades and how this could bleed into the winter months.
Ultraviolet light from the sun causes damage, particularly to the rubber wiper element of the blade, especially if the car sits in the full sun for the majority of the day. The intense light, combined with its heat, can impact the rubber, making it crack, which will lead to smearing on the windscreen when the wiper is in use.
With the extreme heat the UK has experienced last summer, this has presented the perfect upselling opportunity to factors and technicians with regards to wiper blades, especially as the hot weather will inevitably ease and give way to wetter conditions as winter draws nearer.
There are a few typical signs that wiper blades need to be replaced that TRICO is recommending factors and technicians look out for:
- Streaking – when the blade doesn’t completely clear the windscreen, leaving streaks of water or debris
- Chattering – when the blade doesn’t move smoothly across the windscreen
- Smearing – when the debris or water is smeared across the windscreen, but not removed
Even if there are signs of these faults appearing it is recommended to change the wipers before further deterioration occurs, as they are such a safety crucial component and need to be in premium condition for the winter months.
Trico’s group brand and marketing manager, Sam Robinson, said: “As we all know, wiper blades are looked at as a distress purchase and only replaced when they are almost falling apart, or because the vehicle will fail its MoT, but we’re trying to change that mindset by educating technicians and factors on what to look out for when it comes to blades.”
