How to Fix Your Car’s Window Fogging Problem?

Posted on: Jun 8, 2022 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

How to Fix Your Car’s Window Fogging Problem?

Those days are long gone, when we used to deliberately fog up glass surfaces and draw funny caricatures, making it our canvas, the bearer of our childish imagination. However, as an owner of a car, fogging up of windows is no more a matter of joke, but rather that of concern. Paying a car insurance premium is not enough; you have to ensure the proper functioning of all the components of your vehicle.

Fogging of car windows is a very common phenomenon. The car windows can get foggy both during summers and winters. Under such circumstances, the drivers find it difficult to manoeuvring the vehicle as the accumulated fog hinders their vision. Driving under such conditions can be fatally hazardous, making it extremely risky for the driver and the passengers of not only the concerned vehicle only, but for the other nearby vehicles plying on the road.

Common Reasons for Fogging

Fogging happens when the air of two different temperatures meets and forms water droplets, making the windows a perfect surface for condensation. Condensation is a procedure when humidity or water vapour present in the air transforms into liquid when exposed to a comparatively cooler surface. In cars, it’s when you turn on the air conditioner amidst the outdoor scorching heat. Here, the indoor temperature gets cooler with the impact of the AC. So, when the hot outdoor air touches the colder glass surface, it instantly condensates causing a foggy surface. Under certain rare occasions, window fogging can also be caused by the passenger’s heavy breathing inside the car, with all the windows closed. It becomes very difficult to remove the fog if your car’s defog setting is not turned on and the air is not actively recirculated. Irrespective of the side of the glass where the fog has accumulated, your difficulty will remain the same, and your primary concern is to get rid of it at the earliest.

How to get rid of fogging during summer

During the sweltering summer months, condensation occurs on the outer surface of the glass windows of your car. In order to prevent it from occurring, you can undertake these few steps:

● Reduce the AC temperature:

Blasting your car’s air conditioner to the maximum during scorching heat, might feel comfortable. However, this eventually leads to drastic temperature differences in the interior and exterior of your car, causing fogged surfaces. Therefore, if you do not wish to see a fogged glass window, it is better that you turn the AC a notch down. This will gradually bring a semblance between the outside and the inside temperatures, causing the fog to clear.

● Crack open your car windows:

If you are flexible enough to bear the summer temperatures during driving your car, then you have the simplest solution to prevent fogging. Keep the windows slightly open. As soon as the exterior air enters the car, the interior temperatures begin to equalise, dissipating condensation. However, this might not be a plausible solution for everybody or every region, because of the extreme tropical temperatures that India experiences during the humid summer months.

● Switch on the windscreen wipers:

If your car’s windscreen gets fogged on the outside, turning on the windscreen wipers is the most convenient and simplest solution to handle it. This normally happens during summers. Turn on the windscreen wipers at the minimum level till the fog gets cleared. However, turning it on might make matter worse at times. Under such circumstances, try to spray some glass cleaners and then switch on the wipers.

How to get rid of fogging during winter

During the winter months, the fog accumulation pattern reverses. Instead of the exterior surface, the water droplets collect on the interior surface. This happens because the exterior temperature often gets lower than the indoor temperature. Under such circumstances, you can prevent fogging by adapting the following methods:

● Reduce the indoor temperature:

Try to utilise your car’s air conditioning system to bring a balance between the indoor and the outdoor temperatures. This will instantly prevent the water droplets from getting collected on the glass surface. However, such an additional cold might not be a befitting option for many. You may carry an extra set of warm clothes at your easy disposal.

● Switch on the “Fresh Air” mode:

The “Fresh Air” mode is a special setting that allows proper air circulation within the car without any drastic indoor temperature change. This enables to bring a synchronised balance between the interior and exterior temperatures. This prevents fog formation on the glass surfaces. However, while turning this mode on, you must ensure that the “Recirculation mode” remains turned off, as it will be detrimental for the external air to enter your vehicle. Rather, this particular model is for recirculation of the air within the confines of the car by closing the front air ducts.

● Utilizing the defrost vents:

Any car owner and drivers are well aware of the “Defogger button”. This comes extremely helpful, especially for those cars which drive in the colder climatic conditions. Once it gets activated, it sends air directly to the windscreen. This matches the temperatures, bringing balance and causing effective fog reduction. Some car models come with defogger buttons both at the rear and the front of the car, for consistent vision clarity.

How do prevent the car windows from fogging up?

The aforementioned tips and tricks can help you to get rid of the accumulated fog. However, there are certain sure-shot tried and tested methods that will invariably help you to prevent fogging first-hand. Here is a list of tactics that you can implement:

● Applying a coat of shaving foam:

This is one of the surest techniques to prevent fogging on glass surfaces. You need to take a dry, clean cloth and apply a coat of shaving foam on the windscreen and windows. Ensure that this foam remains on the surface for at least five minutes. After that, take another cloth and clean off the residue. This creates a protective layer on the glass surface, preventing condensation. You can try this out any time to test its effectiveness.

● Use silica balls:

The silica balls effectively absorb moisture present in the air. You can keep a few of them wrapped in a cloth on the dashboard. This will prevent fog accumulation. A dehumidifier bag also does a similar job.

● Try to keep the glass surface clean:

The risk of fogging is enhanced on untidy glass surfaces when the water droplets better cling on to the accumulated dust particles. Therefore, it is better, if you keep the surface wiped clean.

Conclusion

Irrespective of the season you are driving, your visibility is your primary concern in all circumstances. You must take the best precautions to avoid any accidental circumstances at any cost. For enhanced safety, you have to maintain paying car insurance premium punctually. These handy tricks and tips will effectively defog your vehicle and keep the surfaces clean, ensuring clear visibility.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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