--- title: Winter Wiper Blades and Washer Fluid for Reno url: https://xpressoilandlube.com/guides/wiper-blades-winter/ business: Xpress Oil & Lube (Xpress Oil & Lube Center) shops: Reno Northwest: 6100 Mae Anne Ave, Reno, NV 89523, (775) 787-1000, Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm, Sat 8 am-4 pm, Sun closed; Reno South: 4993 Longley Ln, Reno, NV 89502, (775) 828-6996, Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm, Sat 8 am-3 pm, Sun closed; Carson City: 1861 E College Pkwy, Carson City, NV 89706, (775) 883-5823, Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm, Sat 8 am-4 pm, Sun closed; Gardnerville: 1293 US Hwy 395 N, Gardnerville, NV 89410, (775) 301-5912, Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm, Sat 9 am-3 pm, Sun closed type: Drive-in oil change and vehicle maintenance, no appointment needed, since 1983 --- Today's coupons - $10 off full-service oil change - $5 off smog check - $25 off transmission fluid service [See all coupons](https://xpressoilandlube.com/coupons/) - [Home](https://xpressoilandlube.com/) - [Guides](https://xpressoilandlube.com/guides/) - Winter wiper blades and washer fluid for Reno # Winter Wiper Blades and Washer Fluid for Reno Before the first storm, fit wiper blades that clear cleanly and fill the reservoir with a washer fluid rated for freezing temperatures. Beam or winter blades shed snow and ice better than older frame blades, and summer fluid or plain water can freeze in the lines on Reno's freezing nights. ★★★★★ 4.7 stars from 952 Google reviews 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](https://xpressoilandlube.com/compare/beam-vs-conventional-wiper-blades/) 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. - Start the car and let the defroster run on high before touching the wipers. - Clear snow and ice from the glass with a brush and scraper, not the wipers. - Lift each blade gently to free it; do not yank it off the glass. - 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](https://xpressoilandlube.com/guides/wiper-blades-when-to-replace/) covers the signs. If the blades are new and still leave a haze, the glass may need cleaning; see [wipers leaving a haze](https://xpressoilandlube.com/problems/wipers-leaving-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](https://xpressoilandlube.com/services/wiper-blades/) 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](https://xpressoilandlube.com/checklists/before-winter/) has the rest of the list. ### Sources - [ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals) (NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 climate normals, Reno-Tahoe airport, Carson City and Minden stations, read 10/15/26) - [carcare.org/car-care-guide/](https://www.carcare.org/car-care-guide/) (Car Care Council Car Care Guide, inspection and replacement intervals, read 10/15/26) - [nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2023-11/Winter-Weather-Driving-Tips-2023-2024.pdf](https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/2023-11/Winter-Weather-Driving-Tips-2023-2024.pdf) (NHTSA winter weather driving tips, read 10/15/26) ### Your service center: Reno Northwest - Call [(775) 787-1000](tel:+17757871000) Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm, Sat 8 am-4 pm, Sun closed - Address 6100 Mae Anne Ave, Reno, NV 89523 [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=6100+Mae+Anne+Ave%2C+Reno%2C+NV+89523&destination_place_id=ChIJ3dFA7yBEmYARYg1CtQTi_Bk) Drive in. No appointment. Drive out. Locally owned in Northern Nevada since 1983. No appointment, no pressure: we tell you what the inspection found and you decide. [About us](https://xpressoilandlube.com/about/) ### Keep reading - [Windshield wiper blades](https://xpressoilandlube.com/services/wiper-blades/) - [When to replace wiper blades](https://xpressoilandlube.com/guides/wiper-blades-when-to-replace/) - [Beam vs conventional wiper blades](https://xpressoilandlube.com/compare/beam-vs-conventional-wiper-blades/) - [Before winter](https://xpressoilandlube.com/checklists/before-winter/) - [Washer fluid not spraying](https://xpressoilandlube.com/problems/windshield-washer-not-spraying/) ## Questions people ask Still have a question? Call your service center or drive in; there is no appointment to make. ### Should I put winter blades on in the fall? If you drive mountain passes often, winter or beam blades help. For in-town driving, good beam blades are usually enough. ### Is it okay to use water in the washer reservoir? Not in winter. It freezes. Use a winter fluid rated well below freezing. ### Why do new blades chatter? Often a dirty windshield or a bent arm. Clean the glass with washer fluid and check the arm. ### Do rear wipers need replacing too? Yes. Rear blades age the same way and are often forgotten.