A wet windscreen can be an irritating start to your journey, especially if you are in a hurry. As the colder weather begins to settle in, condensation on chilly mornings becomes a frequent obstruction for drivers who are trying to set off and get to work.
Out come the cloths and sponges, desperately wiping at the glass to get it dry enough to see out of it before hitting the road. There are a number of causes of condensation and they all amount to there being too much moisture in the vehicle.
A leak somewhere is the prime culprit, but even long-discarded coffee cups or cans of fizzy drinks rolling around the footwells can add to the problem, as reported in the Mirror. Here are some tips for getting to the root of the problem and clearing condensation quickly to avoid catching a fine.
How to stop condensation forming inside your car
Discarded coffee cups and fizzy drink cans could cause excess water to build up in your vehicle
Firstly, find out how the moisture is getting into your car. Edmund King, president of AA, said damp coats and boots can sometimes be the cause, along with a pollen filter that is full of water. But the most likely answer is that the condensation is being caused by a leak.
Offering advice, Mr King said: “Check the pollen filter first – this is on the in-take side of the heater, often under the dash or in the plenum chamber (the area under the windscreen in the engine compartment). Then have a look at the spare wheel well for signs of water ingress (it usually leaks in round the rear lights or through the tailgate seal). Water can also leak in through the bulkhead. This is the panel between the back of the dashboard and the engine bay.”
If a leak is found, Mr King says the best thing motorists can do is mop up the water with old towels and have the source of the leak sealed up. “Remove damp mats, clothing and boots, particularly at night, and let them dry out”, he said.
“On sunny days when the car is parked on your drive, open the windows a little way to let some fresh air in. Air conditioning systems dry out the air before cooling or warming it, so use it while driving to help complete the drying process. If you carry lots of passengers or animals in the car make sure it is well ventilated as the moisture in their breath quickly mists up the glass.”
Why it is vital to clear condensation before driving
Police can fine motorists £60 for driving with an obstructed windscreen
When you have somewhere to get to, it is not always possible to go searching around for leaks or the source of the water infestation. But if you do plan on driving, it is vital that you clear the condensation from the windscreen first.
It is both key for the safety of you, your passengers and other road users but it is also unlawful to drive with your vision impaired in any way. Rule 229 of the Highway Code states motorists cannot have their windscreen obscured by ice, snow or condensation, and failure to clear it could get you slapped with a £60 police fine.
Start Rescue, roadside assistant operators, said the best way of clearing the moisture is likely to be the car’s heating system. They said: “If your vehicle has heated windscreens, turn them on. Turn on your blower full-blast but without heat to begin with and aim it at your windows. Gradually increase the heat over a few minutes. If you have one installed, use your air-conditioning system to dry the air.”
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