Common Failures In Electric Gates

Electric doors or gates provide an additional level of security for a residential or commercial property. An automatic gate not only offers you peace of mind and security, but also gives you the convenience of opening and closing the gate remotely. However, there are some common problems and failures with electric gates that you should be aware of.

These automatic gates are incredibly convenient because they allow quick access, and are useful because drivers don’t have to get out of their cars to access the driveway. Instead, drivers can open the door with the touch of a button on a control or the swipe of a card.

Common failures in electric gates

Most of the time you spend interacting with your electric or automatic gate should be easy and hassle-free. But as with everything, electric gates can and will experience problems that will impact their performance. These problems can range from the very easy to fix to those that require the need to call in a professional to make the necessary repairs.

If you’re having trouble with your electric gate, we’ve put together a list of the 10 most common problems we’ve encountered, and what steps you can take to make sure your gate works its best!

1- Problems with the remote control

A faulty remote control is a common fault with an electric gate . The remote must be kept in good working order if you want to ensure that it will be able to open and close your electric gate without any problems.

You probably just have to change the batteries. But if that doesn’t fix the fault, it may be time for a new remote. The company that installed your electric gate will be able to provide you with all the information you need to obtain a replacement remote control.

2- Failure of the power supply

This may seem obvious, but you need to know if the items associated with the door, such as the keypad, are working or not. If none of the elements of the door work, it is very possible that there is a problem with the power supply .

First things first, check that the door switch is on . Power surges or power outages can cause the door switch to trip. If everything seems ok, take a look at the power supply of the gate.

The gate may be powered by power lines, solar panels, or batteries, each of which may have their own problems. Sometimes these problems can be easy to spot, like disconnected wires or broken solar panels. In other cases, they will be invisible to the naked eye.

If you’re an electrician, electrical engineer, or some other type of electrical professional, this is probably a repair you can do on your own. However, if you are not, we recommend that you call a professional to take care of the problem at hand.

3- Obstructed automatic door

If you have a tracked electric gate, there may come a time when you notice that it doesn’t slide smoothly or has difficulty at certain points along the track. Tracks can easily become clogged by debris such as rocks, leaves, or twigs. Use a broom to clean the tracks and this should fix the problem .

The electric gate may also have a worn track . If the opening and closing movement of the automatic door is not smooth, it is recommended that you physically check the functionality of the door. If the door jerks or sticks when opening and closing, it is a sign that the track is worn.

Damage to the automatic door tracks is also a possible culprit. Take a look at the track and wheels to make sure everything is in order. If there is damage to any of these parts, please call a local expert for more information on what replacement parts and/or services you might need. Keep in mind, however, that regular maintenance will do wonders to keep your gate mechanisms in perfect working order.

4- Defective motors

Electric gate motors can be damaged by water, pests, and other elements . Items inside the engine, such as transmitters and cables, can also malfunction. If you suspect there is a problem with the gate motor, contact a professional to have it checked.

5- Hold Open Activated

Most power doors have a Hold Open feature which, as the name implies, allows you to set the door to stay open. Depending on how many people in your home/property know this code, it is quite common for one person to activate this feature without anyone’s knowledge. Double check to make sure the door has not been set to Hold Open, and if it has, disable the feature.

6- Keyboard malfunction

There may be times when the keyboard does not work as it should . You may notice that the codes don’t always work or that some access codes work correctly while others don’t. If you’re constantly having problems with access codes not working, you may need to reset the codes. Sometimes this can be easily accomplished by consulting your owner’s manual. But if that doesn’t provide help, you’ll need to contact a door and gate professional.

If some access codes work and others don’t, someone else may have inadvertently changed some settings. This can also be rectified with the help of the owner’s manual.

If you find that your access codes don’t work reliably or there seems to be no rhyme or reason to when they work or don’t work, it’s time to call a door expert. There may be wiring problems or other electrical faults that are preventing the keyboard from working properly.

7- Failure by light sensors

Light sensors play a fundamental role for many automatic doors . Most of the time, if you notice that they aren’t responding as they should, you’ll just have to clean them. They can easily be coated with dust or dirt, preventing the sensors from detecting light.

8- Automatic door makes a lot of noise

Sometimes an electric gate can generate a large amount of noise when opening and closing. There could be any number of reasons behind this that don’t always seem immediately clear. Usually, the noise is caused by a worn mechanism that moves the doors . You can fix this automatic door problem by disassembling and then reassembling the mechanism or installing a new part.

9- The electric door does not open or close

This usually happens due to a power outage . Automatic doors require a constant supply of electricity to function properly. Power outages and glitches will prevent your automatic gate from working. If the door is not opening or closing, then you should check if there is a power outage. If there is no power outage or other electrical issue, test your automatic door manually to identify any operational issues. Hire the help of a professional if you cannot identify the cause of the problem.

10- Problems due to pest invasion

Automatic doors work through sensors that activate movement. However, the door will not open if the sensors are blocked. Vermin and insects can climb into the dark spaces provided by the door, causing a blockage. Make sure that these spaces are free of dirt and pests so that the sensors work perfectly at all times. Mold and moss can cause similar clogging, so keep an eye on those as well.

11- Stuck in manual mode

The door sometimes gets stuck in manual mode and does not open and close automatically. There could be a problem with the batteries in the remote control or with the gate opener. It is recommended that you check both problems to find out why the door is stuck in manual mode.

12- Other hardware problems

If you notice that your electric gate is not rocking or sliding smoothly, there may be damage to other hardware on your gate. Check the swing arms, hinges, or door chains to make sure they are not loose, rusted, or dirty . There is the possibility of serious damage to the gate and your property if these issues are not addressed promptly. Your repair options depend on how damaged the door hardware is.

13- External damage

Auto accidents, tree collapse and vandalism will cause damage to the gate structure and operating mechanisms. In such cases, the solution is also expressed in an external repair of the door structure. The work is carried out through the use of welding and tampering with the doors or door hinges.