Hail can significantly impact auto glass, causing damage that requires costly repairs or even total replacements. In extreme cases, hail can shatter windshields and side windows, putting drivers and passengers at risk. So, how big does hail have to be to cause damage to auto glass?
Larger hailstones are more likely to cause damage, but a few more factors are at play, i.e. the velocity and density of the hailstone, the angle of impact, and the strength of the glass. Generally, hailstones the size of a baseball will damage auto glass, but smaller hailstones can also crack or chip your windshield.
Here’s a comprehensive overview of the resilience and construction of auto glass. It covers the various factors contributing to hail damage and how they affect the susceptibility of auto glass. It will also discuss how big hailstones must be to cause damage and the potential consequences of delaying repairs.
Auto Glass Resilience and Construction
Car glass is made to withstand the harsh conditions and extreme temperatures that vehicles are exposed to, including hailstorms. It helps maintain a vehicle’s structural integrity and provides safety for the driver and passengers.
Modern automotive glass consists of two main types: laminated and tempered. Automakers use laminated glass for windshields, and tempered glass goes to the side and rear windows.
Laminated or safety glass consists of two layers of regular glass. A layer of plastic goes to the middle to bond these two glass layers. This plastic layer is usually made of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) or ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA).
The purpose of this layer is to hold the glass together in case of impact or breakage, preventing it from shattering into sharp and dangerous pieces. This type of construction makes laminated glass extremely durable and resistant to high impacts.
On the other hand, auto glass makers heat regular glass and rapidly cool it to fabricate tempered glass. This process increases the strength and durability of the glass, making it less prone to breakage. However, when tempered glass does break, it shatters into small and rounded pieces that are less likely to cause injury.
Also, automotive glass contains various coatings and films that provide additional benefits. These include UV-resistant coatings that block harmful rays from the sun and acoustic films that reduce outside noise for a quieter ride.
Overall, the construction of modern automotive glass is designed to provide safety, durability, and other essential features for both the driver and passengers.
Can Hail Break a Windshield?
Yes, hail can break the windshield of a regular car if it’s the right size and density and hits at the right velocity and angle. Hail can shatter windscreens or bash in auto glass, causing cracks or chips. However, the size of the hail is not the sole determinant when it comes to damage caused by hail.
Typically, folks don’t even ask if hail can break windshields; they ask, “How big does hail have to be to break windows?”.
The short answer is that it depends on the type of automotive glass and how it’s made. For example, a bulletproof windshield may withstand hailstones much larger than a regular car’s windshield.
But even regular auto windshields withstand most hail sizes with little to no damage. It’s only under extreme circumstances that hail can break a windshield. If your windshield has suffered hail damage, you will want to know: “Does auto insurance cover glass repair and replacement in Kentucky?”
Factors Influencing Hail Damage
Hailstones are solid forms of precipitation that range in size, some as small as tiny pebbles and others larger than golf balls. Hailstones form when updrafts in thunderstorms whisk up humidity high into the atmosphere, where they freeze and accumulate layers of ice until they become too heavy and fall to the ground.
While hail size is often attributed as the main factor in causing damage to auto glass, several other variables play a significant role. These include velocity, density, and angle of impact.
1. Density
The density of the hailstone is a crucial factor in causing damage to auto glass. The denser the hailstone, the more force it will have upon impact, making it more likely to cause damage. The density of hailstones depends on various factors, including:
- Atmospheric Conditions
The density of hailstones hugely depends on the atmospheric conditions in which they form. Hailstones need a strong updraft to carry water droplets high enough for them to freeze and grow in size.
If the updraft is weak or fluctuates, the hailstone may not have enough time to grow in size, resulting in smaller and less dense hailstones. If the updraft is strong and consistent, it can support the growth of larger and denser hailstones.
Temperature also determines how dense hailstones get. In colder temperatures, water droplets freeze more quickly, resulting in denser hailstones. Higher temperatures can lead to softer and less dense hailstones.
- Location
The location where hailstones form also influences their density. Hailstorms in higher altitudes, such as mountainous regions, tend to produce denser hailstones due to the colder temperatures at higher elevations.
In contrast, closer to the Earth’s surface, hailstorms in lower altitudes may produce less dense hailstones due to warmer temperatures and weaker updrafts.
- Formation Process
How hailstones form can also affect their density. Hailstones that go through multiple cycles of freezing and melting during strong updrafts tend to have more layers of ice and, therefore, a higher density.
Furthermore, hailstones that form in supercooled water droplets (water droplets below freezing temperature) can quickly grow and become dense due to the rapid formation of ice. In contrast, hailstones formed from raindrops may have a lower density due to slower freezing and less time for growth.
2. Velocity
The speed at which hailstones hit the vehicle can greatly impact the extent of damage. The faster the hailstone, the more force it will have upon impact, making it more likely to cause cracks or chips in auto glass.
However, the Earth’s gravitational pull is always constant, and the acceleration will be similar for most falling objects. So, not just the hailstone’s speed alone determines its impact. It’s also the speed of your vehicle.
For example, hail will hit a car traveling at 100 miles per hour with much more velocity than it would hit a stationary vehicle. Yes, smaller hailstones can cause damage to a moving automobile, while hailstones of the same size may not impact a stationary vehicle.
3. Angle of Impact
The angle of impact also plays an important role in determining the susceptibility of auto glass to hail damage. Hailstones that hit the vehicle at a perpendicular angle have a higher chance of causing damage than those at an oblique or glancing angle.
When a hailstone hits the glass head-on, it concentrates more force and pressure on a smaller area, making it more likely to cause a crack or chip. On the other hand, hailstones that hit at an angle have their force and pressure spread out over a larger area, reducing their impact on the glass.
Preventive Measures and Maintenance Tips
Understanding how different variables affect the susceptibility to hail damage helps, and the following preventive measures and maintenance tips can help avoid auto glass hail damage.
Parking Strategies
One of the simplest yet effective ways to protect your vehicle from hail is by choosing where you park carefully. Park your car in covered areas like garages or car shades if possible.
Another parking strategy is to position your car at an angle, with the front facing away from the direction of the hail, to reduce the impact on the windshield.
Protective Covers
Consider getting a protective cover for your vehicle to minimize hail damage. Various covering types, such as soft or hard shell covers, offer an extra protection layer for your auto glass.
However, it’s essential to properly secure the cover to prevent it from blowing off and causing damage. Additionally, you must regularly clean the cover and remove any debris that may have accumulated on top of it.
Final Thoughts About Hail Damage on Windshields
Besides taking preventive measures, proper maintenance of your auto glass is also crucial in preventing cracks and chips caused by hail. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
- Regularly inspect your windshield for any signs of damage, such as small cracks or chips, and get them repaired promptly.
- Learn when to replace a windshield.
- Replace old or worn wiper blades to prevent them from causing further damage during a hailstorm.
- Keep a safe following distance while driving in heavy rain or hail to reduce the impact of debris kicked up by other vehicles.
- Avoid slamming car doors, as it can put additional stress on the windshield and potentially lead to cracking.
You can mitigate the risk of windscreen hail damage by understanding how different variables like storm severity and wind direction affect the susceptibility to hail damage. You’ll also need to take preventive measures and maintain the auto glass regularly.
