Has anyone ever cracked a frozen windscreen

[mummybongo]

Has anyone ever cracked their frozen windscreen by pouring warm water on it to de-ice it rather than using spray de-icer or scraping?

Just wondering how likely it is to happen?

I don't think warmish water is too bad but I try and avoid it as much as possible for two reasons. Wetting a frozen windscreen means you're more likely for it to freeze up as you drive away in the very cold air and also, what happens to all the water that runs off? It hits the ground and freezes for when you get home. I skidded right into the kerb one day coming home to the ice patch I had inadvertently created that morning.

The trouble is that pouring water (hot, lukewarm or whatever) is going to mean there is more water about that is likely to freeze.
Have always scraped and/or used a screen cover, no frost residue or water to worry about.

Of course the biggest breakthrough was when I got a heated windscreen, about 20yrs ago now but it was a revelation! 🙂

Room temp water poured slowly whilst the wipers are on has always worked well for me.

Flinging a whole jug of hot water on a cold screen will result in the whole thing cracking...

No, not in 28 yrs of driving. Lukewarm water then deploy wipers immediately (pour water on wipers too)

De-icer is not as effective. That said, I do leave my car running to watm up which I know is frowned upon.

Never in 30 odd years of driving.

I use a piece of cardboard/ old blanket as I am to lazy to scrape and de icer is an environmental disaster!

Not with a kettle but my back window went pop after leaving the heater on too long. To be fair it was its first time driving after being snowed in for 2 weeks.

I find using a scraper is by far the easiest.

I use tepid water, barely warm at all. It does the job and I have never cracked a windscreen in over 30 years of driving.

I've been using a jug of very warm water for 14 years. Never had a problem.

Personally I'm always baffled at the people who prefer to stand and scrape away at ice, spray chemicals, scrape more, then sit in their car and just wait for 5-10 minutes. What a pain in the arse.

I take a jug of warm water with me out the door, splosh it over front and back, get in and drive off. I know which option I'd rather!

I used to do it 30 years ago - never had an issue either . Now I just put the car on and scrape . These days though it feels like it’s occasionally not every morning like it was

Not sure why people don’t just use a de-icer
They’re a can of toxic chemicals which can damage the car.
They’re a single use product and generally terrible for the environment, especially if they get into the waterways.
It can kill cats, dogs and local wildlife in ingested.

I’m surprised people still use it to be honest, it’s vile stuff but laziness wins these days I suppose.

We use tepid water
I did saw a video of someone putting water (I imagine tepid) on a large bag and using that closed bag as a “mop”
haven't tried but I’m curious since I did noticed a patch of ice on the drive the other day, which I’m pretty sure it was the water we put to clear the car

Just use a sealed freezer bag with warm water in it. Job done.

My DD sent me a video of someone clearing ice off their car using a plastic 'bag for life' containing lukewarm water. She just pulled the bag across the windscreen. I might try it.

I've been using warm water for several decades. As someone else said, it means that the inside doesn't mist up.
So far so good.

Yeah my neighbours many years ago . I cried with laughter because he was a horrible person . Still think about it to give me a chuckle now .

Warm water is fine. Boiling (or very hot) water is likely to crack a freezing windscreen.

I’ve done the carrier bag of tap warm water rubbed over the windows the last two days. It’s brilliant (and keeps your hands warm).

I wouldn’t risk it personally. DH cracked his windscreen and it took months to repair as the whole thing had to be replaced and it wasn’t in stock… and the insurer refused to let us use anyone else but their supplier to fix it…

My current EV has a pre heat mode though and you can set the climate to turn on automatically with scheduling. I hope all cars get it eventually because it’s a god send. I hated having to scrape it with a credit card every morning!!

I hate the smell of de icer.

I'm surprised at how warm water can crack windscreens. I had a chip repair done this week after a bloody great rock hit my windscreen and made a huge sound on impact, I was amazed my entire windscreen didn't shatter to tiny bits. I thought they must be much stronger these days

You don't need warm or hot water; cold water does the job just fine. Less chance of a crack then. Though I suppose if it was really really really cold, then even cold water could crack it!

Many many years ago, when car windscreens weren't all laminated a colleague who had been on nights poured a kettle full of boiling water on their screen. There was this thwop noise and the whole intact screen and the sealing rubber popped out onto the bonnet. Ooops

I keep a spritzer handy to clear mine, just water with a good dash of meths in it, works a treat.

Just buy a windscreen cover - they are very cheap and very effective!

I would rather stand for a couple of minutes scraping and waiting for the car to warm up than run the risk of cracking my windscreen. A much longer process if that happens because you have to wait for it to be fixed and it costs money. My issue at the moment is that I can’t reach the middle of my windscreen on my SUV because I’m a short-arse and have a large baby bump in the way. I can just about reach on our hatchback. That’s why I have a tall DH though! 😜

A hangover warning from the “old days” before laminated windscreens. Warm or hot tap water works, quick and easy.

Boiling water from a kettle, especially if the windscreen is already weakened by a chip or crack - wouldn’t risk it.