3 Tips for Using a Hair Dryer to Fix the Hail Damage on Your Vehicle
If you are dreading a trip to the auto body shop because your vehicle has recently acquired hail damage, you are not alone. In 2015, 5,412 major hail storms were reported, and an average of approximately 15 billion dollars worth of insurance claims for wind and hail damage have been filed annually for the last five years. Fortunately, many people have found that it is possible to use a hair dryer and dry ice to quickly remove mild hail damage from their cars. If you are already familiar with that process and want to be sure that the use of a hair dryer and dry ice is the right DIY option for the current condition of your vehicle, the following information on this type of hail-damage repair will be very useful.
#1-Set Reasonable Expectations for Your Success
It is first important to note that you will not be able to repair all types of hail damage with a hair dryer and dry ice. Specifically, you are likely to find that your efforts are most successful on the smaller areas that show surface damage only. In addition, each dent that you are repairing should have a diameter that is no less than three inches.
Easily repairable dents don't include damaged portions or major creases, as removing those dents is often more challenging. Even if you are able to pop out the areas in question, the metal itself may still show extensive and unsightly damage.
#2-Only Use the Hair Dryer for Two Minutes at a Time
If you learned from a friend of a friend about using a hair dryer for your dents, it is important to remember that you should not use that heat source for longer for two minutes at a time. That is because it if you allow the paint to get too hot, it could become distorted and the color could be permanently changed.
In order to prevent the possibility of injury, you may want to consider wearing a set of insulated gloves throughout the process. In addition, you will need to use the hair dryer at least five and no more than seven inches from the damaged portion of your car. You should never allow any part of the heated unit to touch your vehicle for the same reason.
#3-Apply the Compressed Air and Dry Ice Immediately
Since you are using the shrinkage and expansion of the metal in your car to reverse the appearance of dents, you will need to apply the compressed air to the dents when it is still as hot as possible. Securing a piece of aluminum foil on the top of the heated area with masking tape will allow you to contain the heat more efficiently and prevent the accidental overheating of nearby areas.
You should not waste any time between using both products, and it is also a good idea to have the nearby container of dry ice ready to use. Since you will be wearing gloves that could impact your dexterity throughout the process, setting up the materials you need ahead of time can be particularly helpful.
In conclusion, hail damage is a common problem that impacts many drivers each year. If you already have the directions for repairing the damage inflicted by small- or medium-sized hail, it is a good idea to be aware of the information provided above. For dents that are not satisfactorily removed using a hair dryer and dry ice, a trip to the auto body shop may be required.