Safelite AutoGlass® – the nation’s leading provider of vehicle glass repair and replacement services – recently reached a significant milestone of repairing one million vehicle glass chips this year.
This is the first time the company had completed this many windshield repairs in one year.
Safelite Repair Medic
During 2010, Safelite AutoGlass® has repaired approximately 4,600 windshield chips every day, and inspects each piece of glass before determining if a repair is needed. Mobile repairs from Safelite AutoGlass® take just 30 minutes on average.
Safelite® uses a state-of-the art, patented resin injected into the chip. The resin has been rigorously tested and has the highest strength and lasting power than any on the market.
If the size of the damage is less than 6 inches, or the size of a dollar bill, then, it's likely it can be repaired instead of completely replaced. If drivers repair minor damage early, they decrease the likelihood they will have to replace it. According to research from Swansea Metropolitan University, 90 percent of windshield chips will crack within three years, about 50 percent of chips will crack within a year, 80 percent within two years and 90 percent within three years.
Here's what drivers should consider:
- Avoid sudden, extreme temperature changes. Turning on the defroster or heat when the weather first turns cold or turning on the air conditioner when temperatures start to rise, creates significant stress on the windshield, causing small chips and cracks to spread.
- Beware of windshield companies that pressure you into unnecessary repairs. Some small chips and pits do not threaten the windshield's integrity. Have a trusted expert examine the windshield.
“Safelite® has been a leader in the vehicle glass industry to promote repairs – it’s a better solution for the customer that saves money and protects the structural integrity of the windshield without breaking the manufacturer’s original seal,” said Tom Feeney, president and CEO of Safelite AutoGlass®. “This is a significant achievement for our wonderful customer service representatives and vehicle glass technicians, and I congratulate them on their hard work that has made us the best in the business.”
By offering repairs as an alternative to replacement, Safelite saves approximately 35,000 tons of CO2 during windshield production each year, enough to fill the Empire State Building approximately 19 times. In addition, it saves the number of damaged windshields being sent to the landfill by approximately 18,000 tons annually.