Changing Your Wiper Blades Is Really An Important Wyoming Task
There are tasks that we all should know how to do, that may have fallen through the cracks, especially when it comes to your car.
Knowing how to check your oil, air in your tires, blinker fluid level*** and changing your windshield wipers are all pretty basic.
When I was in high school, we were offered an industrial education course that gave us a taste of basic thoughts behind certain industries. The idea was to give us general knowledge of the industry. One quarter we were in a wood shop, one quarter we were in an electricians course, one quarter was drafting and the final quarter was automotive. In our town, these were all possible future careers.
In our basic automobile course, they gave us basic knowledge of how a car engine ran and how to maintain your car. Many of us had been taught these tasks by our parents or grandparents, but the class stressed the importance of them.
The first day of class, we were in the shop with the hood of the car up, checking oil, with tire gauges checking the air level and popping off & on windshield wipers.
Today, if you're not sure of any of these tasks, you can drop into an auto parts store, oil change shop or mechanic and they'll help you out.
This year has been an exceptionally we year and we've all used the heck out of our windshield wipers.
Do you know how often you're supposed to change those wiper blades to ensure they're effective?
The answer is every 6-12 months.
Yep, they should be changed once or twice per year. With the climate here in Wyoming being really cold in the winter and really hot in the summer, they'll probably need changed a couple times per year. The sun and heat will make them crack and icy/snowy windshields can tear the blades.
According to the Ford Motor Company, all wiper blades wear out and staying on top of them, will help you when you need them.
Here's what to look for to see if your wipers need replaced.
- Streaking
- Cracking in the rubber
- Low Wear Indicator
- Chattering sound
When it's time to change your wiper blades, you have options.
Since most of us change our oil (or have it changed) 3-4 times per year, changing the wiper blades every other time, is probably a good idea. Or at least have them checked.
If you want to change them yourself, it's really easy.
You can go to an auto parts store and use their guide to find the blades you need for your specific vehicle. Then you can change them out in just a few seconds. They will usually change them out for you if you need help.