INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — The frigid cold is causing more vehicle windshields to crack as drivers quickly warm up the insides of their cars.

Drastic temperature change from cold to hot puts a lot of stress on glass this time of year. Especially if you already have a chip or weak spot in your windshield.

Auto glass technicians say many drivers like to fire up their defrosters to get the cabin compartment warmed up in a hurry. But blasting hot air on an ice-cold windshield can cause it to crack, resulting in a costly replacement.

Here at Binswanger Glass, workers are seeing more calls for cracked windshields during these bitter cold temperatures and others are coming in to get chips repaired before they result in cracks.

“Business is picking up,” said Roy Askren, one of Binswanger’s technicians. “People are getting the chips done. They want to save money especially with holidays coming around. It makes for an easy repair and it doesn’t cost a lot of money to get it taken care of.”

Repairing a chip in your windshield costs about $45 and is paid by most auto insurers. Windshields with chips are most likely to crack during a sudden temperature change. A chip repair can be done in as little as 20 minutes, and often technicians will come out to your car to do it.

Replacing a windshield can cost $200 and up and takes more time. If you can’t repair a chip immediately, technicians advise to slowly warm up the cabin of your vehicle. And direct the warm air on the floor or through the vents, rather than immediately blasting warm air on the glass.