Let’s resolve the issue with this automatic gate opener maintenance article. How? Keep reading to know it!
Automatic gate openers are convenient. They provide the security and comfort in the sense that you do not have to get off to pull your door open (or close your gate).
But now that you have one installed, how do you provide the gate opener with proper maintenance? Believe it or not, it is not that hard to take care of it. It is important to learn these tips before buy a gate opener. Check out these tips on automatic gate opener maintenance.
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Automatic Gate Opener Maintenance Tips
Here are some tips to keep your automatic gate opener usable and good. Keep reading to know these tactics.
1. Dealing with Low Temperatures
Automatic gate openers are vulnerable to cold weather and low temperatures. Metal components might get damaged as the temperature drops, and unless one is using a gate that is only intended for lower temperatures, the grease will thicken as well. These things make it harder for the gate to move and open.
There are two ways to fix this problem:
- Disconnect the cables from the battery and then the ends of the cables as well as from the battery terminals.
- If the battery is made out of metal, take some Styrofoam insulation, and apply a thin layer of it onto the bottom and the sides of the box.
2. Keeping Gate Opener Clean
Home and business owners are supposed to wash and wax their gate openers at least once a year. Doing this will guarantee that their gates last longer and will not require expensive renovations.
3. Bugs Aren’t Welcome
Home and business owners should ensure that insects are not in the electrical part of the device. They can be in electrical cabinets or boxes, circuit boards, and gate openers, and they can all pose a risk for damage. Moisture from snails, slugs, and spider webs is highly conductive. Moreover, corrosion from ant hills and bee nests can corrode the gate opener’s circuits. Make sure you take care of your automatic gate by ensuring that its parts are always clean and free of bugs!
4. What Should Be Done if the Gate isn’t Moving
If the gate is not reacting to the automatic opener or if it isn’t moving or making any sounds, try these steps:
- Check that the breaker and the switch are working properly.
- Check the outlet in which the gate is plugged. Some other device can also be used to see if they work when plugged in the same outlet.
- Examine all of your outlets to see if their ground fault interrupter (GFI) is tripping. Check all of them because if GFI is tripping, this action will cause power to be cut from any device in the GFI’s circuit.
If none of these steps are the problem, the issue may be with the remote controller. It could be broken, the batteries could be dead and need replacement, or the controller has simply run out of “working hours.”
5. What to do When the Gate isn’t Stopping Correctly
If the gate doesn’t stop where it’s supposed to, it is mainly due to the limit switch nut or cam failing to hit the limit switch at the designated time. If the owner has a slide gate, they’ll notice that a lever is holding the limit nut in place.
It is riding inside the slots of the limit nut. To solve this problem, press it back out of the slot on the list shaft. This will put it back in its correct place.
Automatic gate openers are easy to install but even simpler to maintain. Don’t bother calling an electrician or a fancy handy man when the opener begins to act up; following these 5 tips are likely to solve the problem at hand and get the gate opener running smoothly again.
Reference: Mighty Mule Official Website
