Rock Chip on the Way to Work? Here's What to Do Right Now
By Chip Away Auto Glass Repair · 3 min read
You are driving to work on US-19 or the Suncoast and a dump truck or gravel hauler throws a rock right into your windshield. You hear the crack, see the chip, and your stomach drops. It is not a great way to start the morning. But here is the thing: a chip that happens this morning can often be repaired before you get home tonight.
Step 1: Stay Calm and Assess the Damage
Pull over when it is safe to do so, or wait until you reach your destination. Then take a look at the damage. How big is it? If it fits under a quarter, it is likely repairable. Is it a clean chip or is there already a crack spreading from it? Note the location: is it right in your line of sight or off to the side?
You do not need to know the technical name for the type of chip. Just know roughly how big it is and whether it is spreading. That is all you need to describe it over the phone.
Step 2: Do Not Ignore It or Wait
This is not the kind of thing you want to put on next week's to-do list. Florida heat is hard on chips. If you park in the sun during the day and then run the AC, the thermal shock can split that chip into a crack before you know it. The window for a repairable chip closes faster in Florida than almost anywhere else.
Step 3: Protect the Chip Until the Repair
Do you have clear tape? Put a small piece directly over the chip. This keeps moisture and road grime out of the damage, both of which can make a repair harder. Do not use masking tape or duct tape. Clear packing tape or even a piece of clear scotch tape works fine.
- Keep the chip dry. Do not drive through a car wash and do not spray your windshield washer fluid directly over the damage.
- Avoid pointing your AC vents at the windshield on high when you first get in a hot car.
- Park in shade if you can. This reduces heat stress on the chip.
- Avoid slamming doors. The pressure wave is small but it does travel through the frame.
Step 4: Call the Same Day
The good news is car window chip repair is quick -- most repairs take under 30 minutes. Chip Away offers same-day mobile service. Patrick comes to wherever your car is: your office, your home, your parking lot. You call in the morning, describe the chip, and we schedule a time that works for you.
The chip you picked up this morning can be a sealed, stabilized repair by this afternoon. Call (352) 234-4412 and let us take it from there.