Empire Covers Blog

Daylights savings time is almost over, which means it will be lighter out later in the morning and into the evening. Although this time can bring some of the best weather of year for us, your car can become damaged by the sun’s harmful UV rays caused by extended hours of sunlight. Over a period of about six months, usually March-September, your car’s exterior and paint can corrode over this time due to the long periods of sunlight it is exposed to.

Your car’s paint finish breathes and even has pores. In the hot sun the paint’s pores expand and can absorb more dirt and moisture. Imagine having to stay outside all day in the beating sun without any sunscreen or shade. Our skin burns, dries out, and takes days or weeks to heal. Similar to skin, over time the exterior of a car can wear down, fade, peel, and rust when exposed to water. There are preventative steps you can take however, to ensure your paint and exterior lasts to its potential.

There are a many products on the market that you can use to both prevent and treat sun damage. One of the most popular products is a rubbing compound used to polish out blemishes. It’s used to remove fine scratches, oxidation, coarse swirl marks, and water spots. There are also polishes and waxes you can use on a regular basis to prevent sun damage from happening to your car. In the case of extreme sun damage, you can re-paint your car, which costs thousands of dollars.

The interior of your car can also be greatly affected by the sun. The sun is attracted to dark material and can severely damage materials like leather. Collapsible sun shades are the most popular type of interior sun protection. They can significantly decrease the temperature of your car and block harmful sunlight. Car window shades are also popular and can be used while driving.

If your car spends a significant amount of time outside, no matter what climate it’s in, you should consider protecting it with a car cover. Not only will a cover protect your car from sun, it will protect it from rain, bird droppings, dust, and mold. By covering your car, you can prevent all kinds of damage at a fraction of the cost it would be to fix it. At Empirecovers.com, our best covers for sun protection are the Max and the Premier. They are both UV treated and will protect against sun for many years. The max comes with a lifetime warranty and the Premier is covered for 5 years. Buy one at Empirecovers.com today and take advantage of our Sun Covers Sale!

As February comes to an end and rolls into March, winter will soon become spring, bringing green leaves, warmer weather, and puddles of melted snow. This is a long awaited event anticipated by those sick of icy roads and snow shoveling all winter long. For some however, the end of winter means reluctantly packing up the snow gear and preparing for the long haul until the next winter’s first snow. Although often overlooked, storing snowmobiles improperly can lead to an unpleasant surprise the following winter.

Tree sap, bird droppings, dirt, sun, rain, and dust can ruin the exterior as well as the engine of a snowmobile. Most of these things can be very hard to clean off, especially if it has been on the snowmobile for multiple months. You can also scratch the finished if you do try to clean it off the snowmobile. If you wait to wash your snowmobile the following winter, ice can build up on the exterior and damage the paint. If the snowmobile is exposed to water, rust can eat away at the finish and do damage to the engine. The sun’s UV rays are harmful to the snowmobile as well because it can break down the softer areas such as the seat. Leave your snowmobile indoors? Mold and mildew can grow, which can be harmful to both the snowmobile, and the air you are storing it in.

An easy way to remedy this is to store it with a cover. Covers can prevent indoor and outdoor toxins from damaging your snowmobile. At Empirecovers.com, we have two durable 100% waterproof covers made out of high quality nylon to keep out dust and other debris. They are also breathable to keep out water, mold, and mildew. Each cover comes with a full elastic hem for a secure fit. The trailerable covers come with 8 straps to secure the cover while towing. And because we stand behind all of our products, our snowmobile covers come with a 2 year warranty. Don’t have a snowmobile? Our covers make great gifts!