|
The Philly area is pretty renowned for it's own ice storms. This year is kind of unusual in that we haven't had two or three already ... we've been saved by bizarrely high temperatures on a couple of winter storms so far (50-60s in early January is just plain wrong, even for here).
So, anyway, I've had to de-encrust my car a time or two.
It takes some skill, and a lot of luck.
Your first line of defense is getting out to the car early. Removing the first layer of ice can make the going easier.
If we have notice of ice rather than snow, I have seen people put cardboard or trashbags across their card windows ... you just peel the big ol' sheet of ice off the window, once you free up a corner.
Of course, you don't usually find out that it's going to be nasty ice instead of nice fluffly snow in time.
Ice storms are when you discover what those big ridges on the back of the snowbrush/ice scraper are for. Once you scrape your way down to the windshield with that, you can switch over to the regular blade and chip you way to freedom.
sometimes the ice sheet is thick enough that you have to resort to desperate measures. This require just the right ice scraper. It should be one of the heavier, wider ones ... the use of it relies on the fact that windshield glass is stronger than other car window glass. You smack the scraper across the window, with enough force to crack the ice, and hopefully not spiderweb the windshield. Then you just chip off the ice shards.
I do not recommend trying the "whack" method on side or rear windows.
One school of thought suggests the application of hot water to the ice. This is also not a good idea, as it's almost guaranteed to crack the window if the water is too hot. Too cool and you've added an additional layer of ice.
The smart commuter carries a lighter to heat the car key in case the door locks are frozen. If the ice has seeped into the doorframe, throwing oneself at it bodily generally loosens things up enough so that the door will open, but you may find yourself having to hold it closed on the way to work.
As a matter of personal preference I tend to open the passenger side door first, and lean in to start the car, turning the heat and defrosters on as high as they will go. This makes it more likely that opening and closing of the driver's side door will occur in the way it's supposed to.
My favorite way of dealing with the whole issue is to say "fuckit" and let the car thaw itself out ... I call the ambulance for a ride into work because it's too hazardous to drive.
|