You just got a chip on I-25 and your repair appointment is not until tomorrow. Or maybe it is Friday evening and the earliest available slot is Monday. In Denver, leaving a chip unprotected for even a day or two can be the difference between a repairable chip and a crack that requires full replacement. Here are specific, practical steps to minimize spreading until you can get professional repair.
Important Disclaimer
These measures are temporary. None of them constitute a repair. They are designed to slow the progression of damage and keep the chip clean until a professional can fix it properly. The only permanent solution is professional resin repair. Think of these tips as first aid, not treatment.
Step 1: Apply Clear Tape Immediately
This is the single most effective temporary measure. Place a piece of clear packing tape (not masking tape, not duct tape) directly over the chip on the outside of the windshield. The tape serves two purposes:
- Keeps out moisture: Water seeping into fracture lines is one of the primary drivers of crack spreading, especially in Denver where it freezes overnight and expands inside the chip.
- Keeps out contaminants: Road dust, mag chloride, sand, and other debris that work their way into the fracture will reduce the quality of the eventual professional repair. Tape creates a barrier.
Apply the tape smoothly without pressing hard on the chip itself. You do not want to push debris deeper into the fracture. Keep the tape in place until the technician is ready to start the repair.
Step 2: Minimize Temperature Extremes
Temperature changes are the number one cause of chip spreading in Denver. Every degree of temperature swing creates expansion and contraction forces in the glass that stress fracture lines. To minimize this:
- Park in a garage: A garage maintains a more stable temperature than outdoor parking. Even an unheated garage reduces the temperature swing from 40+ degrees to perhaps 15 to 20 degrees.
- Use a windshield sunshade: In winter, a shade provides minor insulation against rapid temperature drops. In summer, it prevents the glass from reaching extreme temperatures.
- Warm the defroster gradually: If you must use the defroster, start on the lowest heat setting and increase slowly over 5 to 10 minutes. Blasting hot air on cold glass is one of the fastest ways to extend a chip into a crack.
- Never pour hot water on the windshield: This should go without saying, but Denver drivers still do it. The thermal shock can extend a chip instantly.
Step 3: Avoid Vibration and Impact
Every bump, pothole, and door slam sends vibration through the windshield that can extend fracture lines. While you are waiting for repair:
- Drive slowly over speed bumps and railroad crossings
- Avoid potholes -- Denver has no shortage, especially in winter. Stay alert and steer around them when safe
- Close doors gently -- a hard slam flexes the vehicle frame and can shock the windshield
- Avoid car washes with high-pressure jets directed at the windshield
- Do not rest heavy objects against the windshield (ladders, boards, etc.)
Step 4: Avoid Altitude Changes
This is a Denver-specific concern. If you have a chip and a ski trip planned, seriously consider getting the chip repaired before heading to the mountains. The atmospheric pressure change between Denver (5,280 feet) and high-elevation passes like Loveland Pass (11,990 feet) or Eisenhower Tunnel (11,158 feet) creates an outward force on your windshield. This pressure differential can extend a chip that was stable at Denver elevation. If the mountain trip cannot wait and the repair cannot happen first, at least apply tape and drive cautiously.
What Does NOT Work
Some common advice on the internet is ineffective or harmful:
- Clear nail polish: Some people suggest filling the chip with clear nail polish. This does not stop spreading, introduces a contaminant that makes professional repair more difficult, and will discolor over time. Do not do this.
- Super glue: Cyanoacrylate glue does not have the right refractive index, does not flow into fine fracture lines, and creates a hard spot that can actually concentrate stress and make spreading worse. It also makes the chip nearly impossible to repair professionally afterward.
- DIY repair kits as temporary measures: A failed DIY repair is worse than no repair at all. The consumer-grade resin can seal contaminants inside the fracture and prevent a professional from achieving a clean repair later. If you are going to get professional repair anyway, just use tape until then.
How Long Can You Wait?
With tape applied and careful driving, a chip can potentially remain stable for several days to a couple of weeks, depending on conditions. However, in Denver's climate, every day increases the risk. The ideal window is 24 to 48 hours. Beyond a week, the odds of the chip growing significantly increase, especially during winter or the spring/fall temperature swing seasons. Do not rely on temporary measures longer than absolutely necessary.