Annual Automatic Gate Servicing Checklist

Automatic gates tend to be ignored until they stop working. A regular service is the best way to catch small problems before they cause a breakdown, and more importantly, to confirm the gate still stops when something is in the way. For a typical household gate, many technicians suggest a service about once a year. Shared driveways and strata gates generally need attention more often, and the motor maker's manual is the final word.

Here is what a thorough service should cover, plus checks you can do between visits.

Part 1: The gate itself

A good service starts with the motor disengaged, using the manual release, so the technician can feel how the gate moves without the motor masking problems.

Sliding gates

• Track clean and free of debris, cracks or bends
• Rollers turning freely, no flat spots, grooves or noisy bearings
• Top guides or guide rollers aligned, not worn
• Gate sitting level and upright
• Gear rack secure, at the correct height above the drive gear, with no stripped teeth
• End stops in place and secure

Swing gates

• Hinges secure, not worn, leaf not dropping
• Posts and pillars plumb, no rot, rust or cracking at the base
• Leaves meeting correctly in the middle on double gates
• Gate stops in place
• Arm brackets and pivot pins secure and not worn
• Drop bolts or locks working and coordinated with the motor

A gate that moves freely by hand puts far less strain on the motor. Problems found here go to sliding gate track and roller repairs or swing gate hinge and arm repairs.

Part 2: Motor and controller

• Motor securely mounted, base plate or brackets not loose or corroded
• Drive gear and gearbox checked where accessible, unusual noises noted
• Control box sealed, no water, insects or corrosion inside
• Board terminals clean and tight
• Limits set correctly, gate stopping at the right point at each end
• Soft start and stop, speed and auto-close settings working as intended

Ants nesting in a warm control box are a common cause of erratic faults.

Part 3: Power

• Battery tested under load, not just a voltage reading at rest
• Battery terminals clean and secure
• Charger or transformer output correct
• Solar panel clean, unshaded and securely mounted
• Solar charge controller working
• Mains supply checked for obvious damage (any mains wiring work needs a licensed electrician in NSW)

Batteries age, and heat speeds that up. A battery that is near the end of its life is a common reason for gates that stop partway, especially in summer or after cloudy days on solar.

Part 4: Safety devices

This is the most important part of any service.

• Safety beams cleaned, aligned and tested. Break the beam while the gate is closing and confirm it stops and, if set to, reverses.
• Obstruction sensing tested. The gate should stop or reverse when it meets resistance. The technician may use a test object rather than a hand.
• Force settings checked and adjusted so the gate stops without excessive force.
• Safety edges tested if fitted.
• Warning lights working if fitted.

Gate drives in Australia are covered by the safety standard AS/NZS 60335.2.103. A technician should never bridge out safety beams or turn obstruction sensing off to make a gate work. If a device has failed, it should be repaired or replaced. See safety sensors and servicing.

Part 5: Access devices

• Each remote tested, batteries replaced if weak
• Old or lost remotes removed from the receiver memory
• Keypads working, codes changed if needed
• Intercoms tested if fitted
• Receiver range checked

If you have moved into a property recently, this is a good time to clear the receiver memory. See gate remotes and keypads.

Part 6: The written record

At the end, ask the technician to note what was checked, what was adjusted and anything that needs attention later, such as a battery nearing the end of its life or rollers that are starting to wear. That makes next year's service, and any future repair decisions, easier.

What you can do between services

• Keep tracks clear of leaves, sand and gravel
• Wipe safety beam lenses and clear spider webs
• Trim plants that are growing near the beams or the gate path
• Rinse exposed hardware with fresh water if you are near the coast
• Watch and listen for changes: new noises, slower movement, stopping in the same place
• Check the manual release key is where it should be, and you know how to use it. See our manual release guide

Do not lubricate tracks with grease, which collects grit, and do not open a mains-powered control box.

Book a service

If your gate is due for a service, or something on this list does not look right, send us the details through the contact page. We pass the job to an independent local technician who will arrange a time and quote the service.