Winter Wiper Blades and Washer Fluid for Reno

Summer is hard on wiper blades in Northern Nevada, and winter is when you find out. Months of sun and 90-degree days bake the rubber, then the first storm on I-580 or the Mount Rose Highway shows the streaks. Washer fluid matters just as much: road spray from mag chloride and sand coats the windshield, and an empty or frozen reservoir leaves you driving blind into a low winter sun.

At a glance

• The Reno airport averages about 21 inches of snow and 122 freezing nights a year (NOAA 1991-2020).
• Winter-rated washer fluid resists freezing; check the label's temperature.
• Beam and winter blades resist ice packing better than frame blades.
• Never run wipers to free them from ice.

Which blades work best in snow and ice?

There are three common types. Conventional frame blades use a metal frame with several pressure points. They work well in rain but can pack with ice and snow, which lifts the rubber off the glass. Beam blades use a curved spring steel strip inside a single rubber body, so there is no open frame to collect ice. Winter blades are frame blades wrapped in a rubber boot that keeps ice out. Many drivers here run beam blades year-round; some swap to winter blades from November to March.

Our beam versus conventional blades comparison lays out the tradeoffs.

What washer fluid should you use?

A winter blend rated well below freezing. The label states a temperature, and in Northern Nevada a fluid rated well below zero is a sensible choice, since Minden averages about 75 nights a year at 20 F or colder and a couple at or below zero (NOAA 1991-2020 normals). Summer bug-wash fluid or plain water can freeze in the reservoir, the lines and the nozzles, and plain water can freeze on the glass the moment it hits a cold windshield.

Keep the reservoir full. Winter driving uses fluid quickly, especially behind trucks on US 395 or I-80 after a storm.

• Choose a fluid rated well below the coldest nights you expect
• Top off before every mountain trip
• Carry a spare jug in the trunk from November to April
• If you switch from summer fluid, run the washers to pull winter fluid through the lines

How do you deal with frozen blades?

Running wipers on ice tears the rubber and can strain the wiper motor or linkage. Lifting blades off the glass overnight before a forecast storm is a common habit here and keeps them from freezing in place.

1. Start the car and let the defroster run on high before touching the wipers.
2. Clear snow and ice from the glass with a brush and scraper, not the wipers.
3. Lift each blade gently to free it; do not yank it off the glass.
4. Use washer fluid to help clear a thin glaze once the glass is warming.

When are blades due?

The Car Care Council recommends inspecting blades twice a year and replacing them when they streak, skip or chatter. Here, many drivers replace them every fall. Our wiper blade replacement guide covers the signs. If the blades are new and still leave a haze, the glass may need cleaning; see wipers leaving a haze.

What we do about it in the bay

Wiper blades and washer fluid are part of every multi-point check at our four service centers. The technician looks at the rubber edge and how the blades sit on the glass, and tops off washer fluid. If the blades are worn, you see them and decide. Our wiper blade service fits the size and type your car takes, front and rear.

Drive in to Mae Anne Avenue, Longley Lane, College Parkway or US 395 in Gardnerville before the first snow. The before winter checklist has the rest of the list.