Have you ever gotten into your car and suddenly noticed a large crack in the windshield? You don’t know exactly how it got there, but now it looks like your windshield is ready to shatter right before your eyes. That’s called spontaneous breakage, and though it’s far from common, it happens more often than you might think.

It could result from extremely hot or cold temperatures, which isn’t much consolation because you can’t control the weather. But here are three things you can control to help prevent your car’s windshield from spontaneously breaking.

1. Pay attention to your auto glass

It sounds simple enough, but it’s often something we neglect. Yes, we look out the windshield as we’re driving, but more often than not, we don’t check for damage. And most people won’t scrutinize the back window unless they have to scrape it.

In most cases, so-called spontaneous breakage isn’t all that spontaneous, MS Glass Outlet explains. It begins with a tiny crack that could start near the seams of the windows, where you rarely look. 

By spotting a crack while it’s small, you can take action before your windshield makes your car look like it was used in a movie stunt. So, what do you need to do if you find damage?

2. Repair damage to your windshield immediately

There are some things that can be put off, but when it comes to cars, it’s better to act as soon as you know something is wrong. That’s especially true for auto glass. If you don’t get it fixed, the damage will only spread.

The sooner you act, the less money you’ll likely have to spend. If you get your car fixed as soon as you notice a crack, there’s a greater chance the windshield can be repaired. That could mean less money coming out of your wallet.

On the other hand, if you wait, you might need to get your entire windshield replaced. The cost will vary depending on which company provides the service, the type of vehicle you drive, and what your car insurance covers, but why go through that hassle when you can prevent windshield replacement by acting sooner?

3. Use a professional auto glass service to repair or replace a broken windshield

Most people have a buddy who’s willing to work on cars. In many cases, there’s nothing wrong with that, especially if the person work on cars for a living.

However, fixing a windshield can be tricky, especially if it isn’t something your friend does regularly. Several things could go wrong that could damage the windshield further. That includes nicking the glass with tools and setting the glass incorrectly. In addition, glass expands and contracts, and if you hire someone unfamiliar with the process, they could make mistakes that could lead to the glass spontaneously breaking. If it doesn’t happen immediately, it could set up your windshield to shatter later.

A professional auto glass service will know all the ins and outs of these specialized repairs. You might fear paying more upfront, but it’s much cheaper to have the job done correctly the first time than to have it replaced later.