More people are pulling up their windshield wipers during inclement weather to prevent them freezing in place, but some prefer to let wipers stay put.

Why Do People Leave Their Windshield Wipers up in the Winter?

If ice and snow are in the forecast, you’ll likely spot parked cars with their windshield wipers raised, pointing outward like spindly arms. This common practice is recommended by the American Automobile Association (AAA) to prevent wipers from freezing to the windshield during icy weather.
Living in New England, I always try to remember to lift my wipers before a storm, especially if ice is expected. It makes clearing the glass easier and helps protect the wipers. However, leaving your wipers up isn’t without its drawbacks, and it must be done carefully. So, is it smart car care or a potentially damaging winter habit? Here’s a look at both sides of the debate, with insights from Larry Morrison of Napa Auto Parts.
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Reasons to Keep Windshield Wipers Up
For drivers who regularly battle windshield ice and snow, scraping a heavily coated windshield can be a frustrating winter car care task. “Keeping your wipers off the glass means they won’t be stuck in place by the ice,” Morrison says. If windshield wipers freeze in place as rain turns to snow, or if snow melts and refreezes, it’s especially challenging to scrape around wipers unless they’re already pulled up.
Plus, aggressively scraping can nick and damage rubber wiper blades when they’re frozen in place, as can running frozen, stiff rubber blades across a windshield that’s still defrosting and ice-coated. “In attempting to pull frozen wipers away from the glass, you can also tear the rubber,” Morrison says.
One more point for the wipers-up camp: If you turned off the car before turning off the wipers, restarting the car could reactivate the wiper motor. And if the wipers are frozen in place, that motor could potentially burn out trying to move them.
Reasons to Keep Windshield Wipers Down
Reason number one, cited by the Farmers’ Almanac, is that you can damage the springs in the wiper arms if you lift your windshield wipers too far.
Reason number two is that windshield wiper blades can damage the cold, brittle glass of the windshield when they snap back down. To prevent this, place a block of wood under your wipers to decouple them from the windshield rather than pulling them all the way up. “If you put them all the way up and they slingshot back down against the glass, there is a chance you could crack your windshield,” Morrison says.
Remote starters, as well as overall better technology, can be a reason to leave the wipers in place on the windshield, even on icy days. Cars, windshields and rear-view windows warm up faster and better than before. If you have a few minutes to let the engine run, any ice should be melted by the time you climb behind the wheel. Just remember to always double-check that the wipers are off before exiting your car to head off the wiper-motor burnout mentioned above—especially if you have a remote starter.
Some people argue that leaving wipers up also invites vandals to mess with them. No one wants to have to add “replace windshield wiper” to their to-do list, during inclement weather, especially.
While We’re Talking Winter Wiper Blades
If you live in a region that takes the brunt of winter, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests adding windshield-wiper inspection and possible replacement to annual winterize-your-vehicle chores. You may want to invest in heavy-duty wipers designed for winter, too.
Replacing wiper blades is an easy DIY task. Here’s how long you can expect your windshield wipers to last.
About the Expert
Larry Morrison is the manager of Napa Auto Parts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. A former auto mechanic, he’s been in the auto parts industry for ten years.
Sources
- Farmers’ Almanac: The Great Wiper Debate: Up or Down?.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Winter Weather Driving Tips