How do I know if my gate needs maintenance?

Security gates, like most other heavy appliances in your home, require routine maintenance to be conducted on their various components in order to keep them operating effectively and safely. As important as this task is, it can be difficult to discern when your gate actually requires a little upkeep.

Why you need maintenance

Knowing why maintenance should be done on your driveway gate is a good first step to knowing when it should be done. This is because it will give you an idea of what to look out for.

There are plenty of moving components within your gate and opener that create friction when they are in operation. This friction will gradually wear down these components until they are ineffective.

Regular lubrication of these parts will ensure that they keep working to expectations, while safety features should be routinely checked to ensure that your gate is safe to use. Conducting regular maintenance will also push back the need for driveway gate repairs.

Maintenance should be done routinely

A good rule of thumb is to have your gate inspected and maintained at least once a year by a professional, twice if you can. Ignoring the need for upkeep will also make it vulnerable to adverse weather conditions which can rot wooden gates while rusting iron and metallic ones.

Looking for signs and sounds of trouble

It is a good idea to keep an eye on the condition of your gate’s components, looking for stress marks such as crack, as well as signs of wearing, rust or rot. If your opener is making strange sounds, it could also point to a problem that needs seeing to.