7 Ways to Protect Your Car from This Historic Heat
What if you were putting your car in danger each day and didn’t even know it?
You might think getting high-quality insurance is enough to protect your automobile. However, you also need to worry about the heat, especially with this most recent summer giving us the hottest days in recorded history for several days in a row.
Fortunately, preventing heat-related damage to your car is easier than you might think. Ready to make sure your ride is prepared to beat this heat? Keep reading to discover how to keep your car cool no matter how hot it gets!
1. Park in the Shade Whenever Possible
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to cooling your vehicle in hot temperatures. For example, the most effective thing you can do is help your vehicle avoid the heat, and that means parking in the shade whenever possible.
At home, it’s best to park in a garage if you have one, and if you don’t, you may want to invest in a carport. And when driving around town, try to park in parking garages when you can and in tree-shaded areas when you can’t. All of this adds up to help keep your car cool and reduce the chance you end up needing roadside assistance.
2. Adjust Your Driving Schedule When You Can
When you’re commuting to and from work, you can’t always control when you have to get on the road. For things like running errands, grabbing groceries, or going to the movies, it’s best to drive either earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon.
At these times, temperatures are likely to be lower, which helps both you and your automobile mitigate the effects of this painful heat. This helps protect your car from much of the internal and external damage it may experience when driving in extreme temperatures (more on this in a minute).
3. Wash and Wax Your Car on a Regular Basis
Some drivers avoid washing and waxing their cars because they think these are acts of vanity. And why go to all the trouble if you don’t care about how others see your automobile? The answer is simple: washing and waxing the vehicle helps protect it from high temperatures.
For example, if you frequently wash your vehicle, you can avoid the damage caused by minerals, debris, and even dead bugs, all of which can lead to your paint cracking in the heat. Waxing your vehicle at least twice a year offers additional paint protection as well as protection from direct UV damage.
4. Install Seat Covers
If you’re worried about how the sun will affect the interior of your automobile, you may want to embrace this summer car care tip and install seat covers. These covers work well with both fabric and leather seats, and they will protect the material underneath from the ravages of the sun.
As an added bonus, these covers also help keep seats cool. Trust us: you’ll really appreciate that when you have to drive over long distances for your next summer road trip!
5. Check and Maintain Tire Pressure
Most drivers, if they are being honest, don’t monitor their tire pressure very closely or very often. When those summer temperatures start creeping up, it’s important to check your pressure each week and adjust it as necessary.
Why is this so important? In short, while underinflated tires are always annoying to drive on, they may lead to a blowout once you drive them on hot pavement. A blowout could lead to injury or even death for you and others. Even if nobody gets hurt, you’ll be stuck with a bill for a new tire. With proper maintenance, you can keep yourself, your family, and your tires completely safe!
6. Invest in a Windshield Sunshade
Remember when we said that you didn’t have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to cooling your vehicle? Another tried-and-true technique you can use is to invest in a windshield sunshade. These shades usually take only a few seconds to set up and they can protect the interior of your vehicle from direct sunlight, which also makes the car more pleasant to get back into after a long day of shopping.
There are also plenty of shade patterns available, including cute, licensed ones that make it look like characters from Star Wars are inside your vehicle. By getting a shade that matches your interests and personality, you can make sure your car looks as cool as it feels. If it’s safe to do so, don’t forget to crack the window to improve air circulation throughout the car.
7. Monitor Your Car Battery and Fluids
While you can easily monitor what the heat is doing to your paint and even your tires, it’s not always easy to tell what’s going on under the hood. Because of this, it’s helpful to have a trusted mechanic inspect your car at the beginning of summer and towards the end to make sure that the battery is healthy, the fluids are topped off, and the cooling system is intact (we recommend doing the same to prepare for spring as well).
These are the kinds of things drivers usually discover only when it’s too late, and it can be downright dangerous for your car to break down in the middle of the road on a day with record-breaking temperatures. With a bit of preventative maintenance, you can stay safe and cool throughout the summer and beyond.
Keep Your Car Safe from Unexpected Dangers
Now you know how to protect your car from this historic summer heat. But do you know who can help keep your automobile safe throughout the year?
Here at InsureOne, we think the best way to beat the heat is to offer the coolest automobile insurance in town. We’re always ready for you to get a quote online. You can also give us a quick call at 800-836-2240 or come into one of our nearby offices at your earliest convenience!