Automated Gate Maintenance in Houston
The following tips will improve your experience with your gate operator to reduce the frequency of service calls. Whether you have an automatic or manual gate, you’ll know how to operate it safely; this includes ensuring no one will activate the gate should you have a professional servicing it; our automated gate maintenance in Houston is reputable for stellar customer service and reliability. Like most moving parts, your gate will require lubrication, and using the proper lubricant is very important. For example, if you live in dusty conditions, you’ll always require more frequent service and likely will need to lubricate it more often.
Although dust can be harmful to your fence’s mechanisms, moisture is the enemy of your system. Try your best not to let sprinkler water spray any part of the operator. It’s designed for rain but not for treated water from the sprinklers. Regardless, wetness is unavoidable (from rain or snowfall), which means you should watch for rust and treat it as soon as possible with lubrication or paint.
If you have a chain, it will rust and bind; lubricate it with chain lube on a monthly basis or as needed to prevent rust buildup. Excessive slack must be adjusted out. You may need to call us to do this as sometimes links must be removed.
For an actuator arm that moves in a cylinder, you’ll need to apply a non-petroleum-based lubricant to the shaft. Use a silicon-based lubricant after wiping any dust or dirt off. This only needs to be done when a squealing is heard or annually in most cases. For hinges, grease quarterly with a grease gun (unless you had us install the sealed ball bearing type, which requires no maintenance).
If your operator machine has batteries, you will need to determine if they are sealed or if they will need water added. Check and add water quarterly or more often if needed and be sure to check for any corrosion as well. Most batteries will need to be replaced between two and four years of service, depending on the usage. This can be a do-it-yourself project in some cases. In others, it may be best to have us do it since control boards must be removed, which is a job that requires professional care to avoid damaging sensitive components.
Applying lubricant and doing your own maintenance is a great way to be on the lookout for any damage to electrical wiring. Turn off the power to the machine and call us as soon as you see this. We’ll be glad to answer your questions and complete the job for you safely.