As the December chill sets in and frost becomes a regular morning nuisance, the AA has issued a straightforward piece of parking advice to help motorists avoid a frozen windscreen. This simple strategy, centred on where you leave your car overnight, could save you valuable time and effort during the colder months.
The AA's Key Winter Parking Advice
According to guidance on the AA's website, a little forward planning can stop ice from forming in the first place. The most effective solution is to park your car in a garage, if you have one, as it shelters the vehicle from the elements and airborne moisture that leads to frost.
For those without a garage, the motoring organisation offers a clever alternative. Park your car on your driveway as close to your house as possible. The radiant heat emitted from your home can help keep the immediate area slightly warmer, reducing the chance of ice forming on your car's surfaces.
Why Does Parking Near Your House Work?
You might be surprised at the science behind this simple tip. A building acts as a windbreak and emits a small amount of heat, which the side of the car closest to the wall can absorb. This helps prevent the car's surface temperature from dropping to the freezing point of water.
Furthermore, on clear nights, objects lose heat directly into the cold upper atmosphere. A solid structure like a house, or even a tree, can partially block this process, allowing the vehicle to retain more warmth. For an extra advantage, if possible, park with your windscreen facing east so the morning sun can help melt any frost naturally.
What Other Motorists Are Doing
The topic has sparked discussion among drivers, notably on platforms like Reddit. One user highlighted the benefit of a windscreen cover, stating it "dramatically reduces my need for de-icing." Others shared their own methods, with one person explaining they keep one car in a garage and park another so close to the house that it gets a "pre de-ice courtesy of the central heating." Another admitted to renting garage space from a friend specifically for winter storage.
While using a garage is the most reliable method, the AA's advice confirms that strategic parking, even without one, can be a highly effective weapon in the battle against winter frost.
