North Dakota: Experts Say You Shouldn’t Leave Your Wipers Up

Leaving Your Windshield Wipers Up During a Snowstorm

It's the en vogue thing to do these days in North Dakota. I was at the YMCA last week before our arctic outbreak and even before the quick shot of snow that we received, numerous vehicle in the Y parking lot had their windshield wipers up.

I certainly get Y people (get it?) do it, but is it a good idea? The obvious advantage to this practice is that you avoid having your wipers freeze to your windshield. It's never fun to take your scraper out and try to carefully dislodge your wipers from the ice and glass without damaging them.

The other good reason to leave them up is that you avoid forgetting that your wipers are frozen to your windshield, and you accidentally turn on your wipers. This could burn out your windshield wiper motor or damage it when the blades try to push their way through heavy snow or ice. Believe me, I've been there, done that.

So, we've got two good reasons to always leave your windshield wipers up during an ice and snowstorm, but wait, experts say there are two good reasons not do this.

Here's Why You Shouldn't Do It

According to AAA, and they know a thing or two about driving, they say leaving the windshield wipers up during a storm could be a costly decision. For starters, you are putting stress on that spring that holds up the windshield wiper arm. This could cost you a few hundred dollars at a shop.

The other reason is that if it's windy at all (something we know something about living in North Dakota), it could blow your windshield wiper arms into your windshield, causing either damage to your windshield or the wipers.

Instead, AAA suggests you should invest in a snow cover or use a blanket over the windshield and weigh it down with something heavy prior to a storm.

Sounds like a lot of work to me. It's a snowy dilemma. You'll have to decide for yourself which avenue is better. Me, I'm going to take the high road and keep em' up.