Driving in the winter can get extremely frustrating. Have you ever noticed your windows fog up quickly while you’re driving down the road? There are several reasons that the windows fog up, preventing you from seeing well. Luckily, there are also a number of ways to help prevent foggy windows.
Why Windows Fog
When you’re driving on a cold day, you’ll notice that your windows are likely to get foggy. Your windows are generally colder than your breath. As you exhale water vapors into the air, they stick to the windows. These vapors slow and clump together on the cold window, and create the fog. In general, the more people you have in the car, the worse the windows get. With more people breathing out water vapors, you’ll notice a quicker buildup of water molecules on the window.
Get the Right Temperature
The easiest way to get rid of fog on windows is to get them to the right temperature. If they are cold and at the dew point, they’ll get foggy. However, you’ll notice that your windows fog up in the summer as well. If it is cold outside, turning on the heater helps heat up the windows, dispersing the fog. In the summer, the windows are likely to be colder on the outside than the inside, and using the air conditioner can get rid of fog.
Using the air conditioner for a short time in the winter can also help defog the windows in some cases. This is because the air conditioner helps dehumidify the air, getting rid of the water molecules that make fog. However, most drivers don’t want to use the air conditioner during winter since it’s already cold.
How to Prevent Fogging
Luckily, there are some ways you can keep your car from fogging up too badly. One of the most obvious is to keep wet items out of the car as much as possible. If it’s raining outside, you may use an umbrella. However, putting a wet umbrella in the car is going to increase the fog on your windows. Keep your wet items in the trunk, so they don’t make the problem worse.
Another way to help prevent fog in your car is to clean the inside of your windows regularly. If dirt and grime build up on the windows, it gives the water molecules something to hold on to. If the windows are clean, they’re less likely to get a bad fog buildup. However, if you just wipe up the foggy windows and leave the rag in the car, you’re going to be recirculating the moisture. Clean the windows when the car isn’t foggy to ensure you get it all clean.
Foggy windows cause a lot more than just frustration. If you try to drive while the windows are foggy, you’re ruining your line of sight and making your drive more dangerous. Be sure to defog your windows before you start driving to stay safe.
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