When to Replace Windshield Wipers

If your wiper blades are streaking, skipping or smearing, they need to be replaced. Your wipers should act like squeegees that smoothly wipe the precipitation off your windshield. If precipitation isn’t being smoothly removed, or if you notice squeaking or scraping noises when using your wipers, it’s time to replace your wiper blades. Failing to replace the wipers before they fail entirely can even lead to damage to the windshield if anything but the wiper element comes in contact with the glass.

If you notice streaking or smearing, or hear squeaking or scraping noises when using your wiper blades, perform a quick inspection of your wiper blades themselves. If you notice that they’re cracked, flaking, split, or excessively dry, it’s likely time to change your wiper blades. You may also notice dangling rubber from the wiper blade element, or see a bent wiper blade frame. Any damage to the frame or the rubber will result in streaking and squeaking.

All of these issues can cause your wiper blades to perform poorly and can restrict your vision in poor weather conditions. Your local O'Reilly Auto Parts store carries a variety of wiper options for your vehicle, as well as washer fluid, glass cleaner, and more to make your visibility even clearer. Any time you pick up new wiper blades at our store, we'll also gladly install the windshield wipers for free.

While replacing your wiper blades is a routine maintenance task that should be completed regularly, sometimes wipers can fail prematurely. One of the most common reasons wiper blades may need to be changed before the recommended replacement interval is harsh environmental factors, such as excessive exposure to heat or cold. A significant increase or decrease in temperature can weaken the blades and cause the rubber to crack or split. Contact with ice or hail can also damage the rubber wiper element. If your wipers are failing early, you may notice signs of increased wear or damage along the wiper blades' rubber edge, creating a streaking effect or squealing noise. In this case, you can either replace the pair of wiper blades, or if desired, you may be able to install wiper blade refills. These refills are designed to maintain the same wiper blade frame and replace only the element and are most common in older and heavy-duty applications. Replacing the complete wiper blade and frame helps to ensure that the wiper is pressed evenly against the windshield for the best possible performance and is typically the most recommended replacement method.