From the first winter storms, a well-known reflex appears in driveways and parking lots: vehicles parked with the wipers lifted.
For some drivers, it is a systematic habit. For others, a useless gesture, even risky for the wiper arms. The question comes up every winter: is it really better to lift your wipers when a snowfall is announced?
As often in car maintenance, the answer largely depends on the context.
Why some drivers lift their wipers
The reasoning is simple.
In winter conditions, the wipers can:
-Adhere to the windshield due to frost
-Getting stuck under the snow or ice
-Requires a delicate clearance before departure
Lifting the wipers mainly aims to prevent the rubber from freezing against the glass, which can complicate later use and, in some cases, damage the blade.
In an environment marked by cold and humidity, this precaution may seem logical.
In certain specific conditions, temporarily lifting the wipers can be relevant:
-When a major storm is forecast
-In case of freezing rain
-In intense cold, which promotes adhesion to the windshield
Indeed, frost can make the wipers difficult to detach without putting stress on the rubber.
What some industry specialists emphasize
Some experts in the automotive aftermarket sector acknowledge this preventive logic.
Representatives of manufacturers explain that wipers frozen to the windshield can be damaged when trying to operate or detach them without caution. The risk mainly concerns blades that are already worn or less flexible in cold weather.
In other words, temporarily lifting the wipers before a significant snow accumulation can reduce certain stresses in specific conditions.
Possible limits and drawbacks
This practice is not without side effects, however.
When the arms remain lifted:
-The springs remain under prolonged tension
-The arms become more exposed to wind or impacts
-An accidental swerve can cause a violent impact
These elements explain why there is no universal recommendation applicable to all situations.
A matter of circumstances rather than an absolute rule
In practice, lifting your wipers is neither an obligation nor a systematic mistake.
For short-term parking or in the absence of significant precipitation, the usefulness becomes limited. Conversely, before a major storm, some drivers see it as a reasonable precaution.
The most consistent approach is to adapt your behavior to the actual weather conditions.
The real determining factor: the condition of the blades
An often overlooked element in this debate concerns the quality of the wipers themselves.
Wipers in good condition and designed for winter conditions generally resist freezing, moisture buildup, and temperature variations better.
When the blades remain flexible and even, the need to lift the arms often becomes less critical.
See our offer of robust wipers for winter.
A simple approach is to favor moderation:
-Raise the wiper blades before a major storm if the vehicle will remain exposed
-Avoid doing it systematically without a specific reason
-Never force wipers that are stuck to the windshield
-Always clear the ice before activation
In conclusion, lifting your wipers in case of snow is more of a preventive reflex than a universal necessity. In some situations, the practice can facilitate snow removal. In others, it offers few concrete advantages.
Since recommendations may vary depending on weather conditions and the condition of the blades, a reasonable and adaptive approach remains the most relevant.
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