As the UK braces for a significant heatwave this week, vigilant drivers are being warned about an unexpected financial hit.
With the changes in temperature, windscreens are prone to cracking, and potentially cost drivers upwards of £180 to repair.
Prestone, a company renowned for its maintenance and protection fluids, has cautioned that the extreme heat could cause substantial damage to car windscreens due to thermal shock.
A spokesperson for Prestone explained: “Slightly counterintuitively, it isn’t the heat directly that causes damage, it is the fluctuation in temperature that could cause damage.
“Mechanical tension is placed on an object when parts of it are being expanded due to heat and some are contracting due to being cooled down.”
The company stressed that this fluctuation can lead to thermal shock, a condition where brittle materials like glass can crack or even explode.
To avoid this, drivers are advised to avoid parking in direct sunlight and instead seek shaded areas such as under trees, in garages, or other forms of cover.
Prestone also said maintaining a windscreen in good condition to reduce susceptibility to damage.
“A windscreen in good condition is less likely to be affected by changing temperatures.
“Regularly washing your windscreen and checking for chips or cracks will allow you to fix the small issues before they require a full windscreen replacement,” the spokesperson added.
The warning from Prestone comes as the UK anticipates a surge in temperatures this week.
The Met Office has issued an update indicating a significant shift in the forecast by Thursday.
They said: “Earlier low cloud has lifted to leave a largely dry and settled day with bright or sunny spells for many.
“Some areas of low cloud and patchy drizzle will persist around southwestern coasts, and the northwest will be cloudier with patchy rain. It will feel very warm in places, with maximum temperatures of 28C in London and mid-20s across the eastern half of the UK.”
However, the Met Office has warned of potential scattered showers from the start and possibly throughout the weekend.
Andrea Bishop, a Met Office spokesperson, said: “From Friday to Sunday it will remain largely dry and cloudy, with the potential for lighter showers across the weekend. Conditions will be slightly above average between 18C and 21C.”