Cover the inside of the car with a large towel or tarp. Then spray the inside of the window with ammonia. Leave the car in direct sunlight for an hour. (You should do this on a sunny day if possible). Then peel the tint carefully of the window. You can start the process with a razor blade. If it doesn’t come off, reapply the ammonia and give it another thirty minutes.
Bad Window Tinting Job? Bubbles in Tint? How Can You Fix It
If you have had your windows tinted, then you know that eventually window tint is likely to peel or bubble. Whether this makes it a bad job depends on how long it lasts. If your window tint was poorly applied, then it may peel or bubble quickly. This often happens if you are trying to do it yourself, especially for the first time.
How Long Should Tinted Windows Last?
The length of time you should expect your tint to last before needing to be redone actually depends on several factors:
- The type of film used. Simple dyed film, while very cheap, may only last a year or two. Hybrid film which contains both dying and reflective metals lasts four to five years. Very expensive window film, made in a vacuum chamber, can last as long as a decade. You should consider how long you plan on keeping the video when choosing what window film to buy. Also, some hybrid films can interfere with your cell reception because of the amount of metal in them.
- The quality of the installation. A good professional installation will generally last longer than do it yourself.
- Your local climate. Window tint generally lasts longer in cooler and cloudier areas. If you live in the desert then the constant sun exposure will reduce the lifespan of your tint. You should talk to your installer or other people who live in your area to find out what to expect. As tint is applied to the inside of the window, it is not affected by rain or snow.
Should You Fix Window Tint Yourself?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. If you had a professional job done and it is still under warranty, you should take it back to the installer and make them fix it. If you did it yourself, then you can try to fix it yourself, but bear in mind that if you did a poor job the first time, your repairs may also be of lower quality. Applying window tint takes a lot of patience and is highly meticulous, so there is no shame in not being able to do it well.
Peeling tint may need to be replaced. Sometimes you can fix it by rinsing it in soap and water and then using a squeegee to place it back in place, making sure to smooth out any bubbles first. However, it is generally better to mark a square around the damaged area and cut it away with a razor blade. Apply a fine mist of water and then remove the section, making sure you get both layers. Thoroughly clean the exposed window, then cut a new section about an inch larger, wet the window and reapply. Needless to say, you should use the same tinting film you used originally.
What Are Window Tint Dust Bubbles?
Window tint dust bubbles are small dots that you notice in your tint not long after it’s applied to your windows. These little dots are generally gatherings of dust under the window film. Within the window tint industry, these tiny dust bubbles are referred to as ‘points’ whereas larger bubbles are referred to as dirt.
Before installing window tints on your car’s windows, the surface must be thoroughly cleaned. That’s because any dirt or dust left behind will lead to air bubbles forming around it.
Basically, the debris will make it hard for the tint to stick to the window. In the beginning, this may not be noticeable, but as the tint dries they come visible.
Now, tint dust bubbles will not only form when you have not cleaned the window thoroughly but can also be due to dust in the air when tinting in a windy or dirty environment.
This is why, before you install the coating on the windows of your vehicle, you should make sure the surface is sparkling clean. And you’re working in a sterile environment with no air movement.
Some dust is inevitable, in fact, it is impossible to avoid it entirely. However, by taking adequate preparation steps any dust that does remain on the window should be unnoticeable to the human eye once the window tint is installed.
Did you know that some dust bubbles may be in the window film itself? Window film manufacturers state in their document that due to the fact that some tints are made up of multiple layers of film, some dust may be present between the layers – again this is barely noticeable to the human eye from a distance of about half a metre away. Better quality films have higher levels of quality control during manufacturing to minimise imperfections in the films.
Are Dust Bubbles Normal After a Window Tint?
Sometimes, there may be a few water bubbles visible on freshly-installed window tint. They are quite small, and in a matter of weeks, they should go away. This is normal and expected.
How quickly they go away will be influenced by the amount of heat. Generally, warmer environments will allow the water bubbles to vanish faster, while it takes longer for them to disappear in cooler weather so keep that in mind if you are tinting your windows during a cold winter.
Now, while small water bubbles are not out of the ordinary, large air bubbles are, especially if they form in an older tint. In this situation, they will not go away.
Sometimes, the film will develop dust bubbles, and these are not normal after installing a window tint. Although it is not unusual to see a tiny amount of dust or lint around the edges, contamination or dirt should not be visible following the installation.
The truth is that it’s quite difficult to eliminate every single dust particle from the window. In fact, as soon as you’re done cleaning, a new particle may find its way to the surface. These particles are hard to see with the human eye and they should not affect the tinting in any way.
It’s the larger particles and pieces of contamination or dirt that become an issue. These are not normal. A professional will most likely redo the tinting if they notice any large dust spots or dirt after the installation.
How Do You Fix Bubbles in Window Tint?
Fixing the bubbles in the window tint depends on the nature of your installation. If the product was installed by a professional, you may have a warranty that will be quite helpful in this case. Keep in mind that given it is impossible to remove all dust before installation, most window film warranties and installation warranties allow for a small tolerance of dust (or points as it is also known).
If you’re in this situation, the best thing to do would be to take the vehicle back to the installer and ask for their opinion.
If the product is no longer under warranty, you can try to fix it at home. The same applies if you’ve installed the tint yourself.
One thing you don’t want to do is use a sewing needle or a pin to pick the bubbles. Whilst this might temporarily get rid of the bubble, it is sure to return once dust enters the hole you have created.
Instead, use a hard blunt object with a rounded edge that won’t scratch the tint to firmly press down around the point so that the film sticks down to the glass around the dust particle. This should make the air around the point stick to the glass instead of being an air bubble making it vanish. Unfortunately, this method is only possible with tiny points and not larger dirt contamination.
You must also make sure that you are patient when installing window tint film. If you want it done properly, you should be very careful and not rush.
If the bubbling is quite excessive, it’s best to remove the old film and install new tinting.
Keep in mind that the quality of the installation will vary. If you did a bad job from the very beginning and you didn’t install the film properly, chances are that the same thing will happen the second time. So, if you want to make sure the window tint is installed correctly and provides protection against the sun, you should consider going to a professional for help.
