Embrace the Wintertime and Enjoy Your Automatic Gate Opener!
Wintertime means colder weather and less sunlight. For much of the nation, it also means lots of snow, ice, and inclement weather. These things can potentially impact your automatic gate system. Your gate operator may not work properly (Usually the first usage time in the morning times), because the grease inside the motor may have frozen. This issue happening for all outdoor mechanical parts and motors.
If the gate opens in half and stops, you need to drive back from the top of the underground vehicle sensor (if available in your gate opener package) and let the gate to going to close by itself (If the gate opener system has an auto-closing function activated.) or use the gate remote control or keypad to close the gate.
Then drive to the underground exit wand sensor, or use the remote to open the gate again. The gate will open more and faster than the first time!
It will help to warm up and raise the temperature of the jammed greases that are in the gate opener gear transmission to do a better action in the gate opener motor’s working time. When it is very cold and snowy, especially at night, we recommend that you leave your gate open or put the motor(s) into manual mode using the release key(s) so that if your gate is frozen and out of motion in the morning, you can leave your residence without delay.
By arming yourself with the facts and learning to take the best care of your automatic gate opener, you’ll enjoy smooth, seamless operation all winter.
The following points cover basic maintenance and quality assurance of gate operator systems during the winter:
1- Snow/Ice Removals
Clear the gate area of snow, ice, etc. To make sure everything is safe before using the gate operator. When it snows, people are quick to shovel their driveways and sidewalks, but they often fail to think about their automatic gate opener. This should be at the top of your priority list.
During clearing snow from around the gate (remember – your gate is NOT a snowplow!) You should take a snow brush to clear snow from the gate, operator, lock, and safety sensor. Never use salt or other de-icing products on your gate, automatic gate openers, or other components, as this can cause corrosion and significant damage.
The prompt removal of snow is sufficient to prevent ice from accumulating and to ensure that everything will operate normally.
2- Keep the Gate’s Moving parts in Good Condition.
When the temperatures dip below freezing, it’s a good idea to run your gate system a few times a day. This will warm up the motors and other components to ensure that your automatic gate opener works well when needed.
We recommend you release the gate operator motor(s) using the manual release key, then allow the gate operator to prepare to use, by opening and closing the gate manually a few times by hand. Before using the gate operator system better to relock the gate in the middle position (Half-open) and then use the remote control.
Especially for swing gates, you should always take care to maintain your gate’s hinges to ensure that too much strain does not get placed on the automatic gate opener brackets and motors, thus allowing it to work at peak capacity.
Lubricate the hinges, wheels, and all movement points regularly, and use grease spray lubricants during cold weather to avoid problems with the lube becoming thick on the parts.
3- Electric Lock Frozen
Magnetic Electric Locks and Electric Rim Locks are two different types of the automatic locks that usually using for secure the gates.
Both of them have magnetic mechanisms to operate, and both of them could freeze when the rainwater comes around the magnetic lock plates or electric lock latches.
Our first recommendation is electric lock has to be lubrication every 3 months. If your installed gate has an electric lock and snow and water can get into the mechanical latches, in cold weather, the water between the latches will freeze, and the gate opener will be unable to move the gate leafe/s.
Of course, the electrical magnet inside the electric lock or the electrical motor -depending on the electric lock type- doesn’t have any issues, and only the mechanical latches are frozen, and it is only a real physical reaction between water and weather.
The water measurements, that can go into the lock lathes depend on the gate design and type of the lock. Electric locks are better to have a cover for mechanical equipment.
The Electric Rim Lock RGEL1093 mechanism’s positive point is because it has a less flat face to make the icing at the attached points but the freezing may be accrued, depending on temperature and wetness.
To remove the ice from the lock, if you have a plug close by the gate you can warm it using a hair dryer or you have to shake the lock latches. To remove snow and ice, you can use a plastic hammer.
In colder areas, if the freezing happens several times a day, it is better to unscrew the other side of the latches. Unscrew and keep them in a safe place and don’t miss, re-screw them in better weather.
4- Check the Battery charge.
If your gate opener is powered by batteries, A fully charged battery is the key to a healthy, happy, automatic gate-opening system.
Remember that in lower temperatures, a battery’s performance level decreases. In other words, it’s more difficult for the battery to deliver the maximum current required for operating your system. If you use an AC transformer to charge your battery, you shouldn’t have any trouble unless the battery grows old and no longer holds a full charge. In this case, it will need to be replaced.
If you rely on solar power, you may face challenges during the winter if the panels become covered with snow or don’t receive enough sunlight. Always clear snow and debris away from your panels immediately, and consider adding some extra panels to soak up more energy and keep your batteries powered.
5- Protect the Gate Hardware Against Corrosion.
Prolonged exposure to the elements and accidental exposure to de-icers can cause corrosion. If you notice the effects of corrosion, you should turn off the power breaker of your driveway gate operator system before cleaning. A simple wire brush and a mixture of water and baking soda can be used to clean areas impacted by corrosion.
6- Protect the gate on windy days.
The gate working is sensitive against the wind, it means someone push the gate during the operating times in windy times.
The gate will be affected by air pressure, and this can vary greatly depending on the speed of any wind blowing towards a moving gate.
If the gate stops before it meets the end of the way in closing, use the remote again to operate the arm to move it to the full opening position, and then help it to close by hand.
In windy times, we recommend you keep it fully open or close and secure it by putting something heavy in front of it or using a rope.
To keep the mechanical components of your gate system safe and healthy, please do not use the gate in the strong windy times, and if you would like to use it, push the gate and help it to go to the full opening or closing position.
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–> To have in-site technical services:
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- If you have an account with us, please send your request directly from your customer panel.
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- Please click here to send your information and request directly to our customer hub, and let us know your preferred dates to schedule a visit.
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- If you are in Greater Vancouver, BC, our technician will come to your address and resolve the problem.
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- To have on-site technical services for your installed automatic driveway gate, if you have an account with Royal Gates, please send your request directly from your customer’s panel.
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- If this is your first service request and looking for our recommendations, please send some pictures from the gate operator, main control panel, and receivers or your remote control to us using WhatsApp at 778 384 2800 or by email to retcc.ca@gmail.com.
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- You can click here to send your information and request directly to our customer hub and let us know your preferred dates to schedule a visit.
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- You will be contacted within one business day.
–> To get a fast online estimate for your required driveway gate, you can click on “Fast Estimate”.
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- If you want to continue please submit the form, your request will directly come to our customer hub and we will make contact with you, within a maximum of one business day.
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- To create a custom quote, need more information like design, dimensions, your address, name, and email.
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- You can click here to send your information and request directly to our customer hub and let us know your preferred dates to schedule a visit (If necessary).
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- If you are in Greater Vancouver, BC, our technician will come to your address.
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- Please send some pictures of the driveway, posts, and the electric sources to us using WhatsApp at 778 384 2800 or by email to retcc.ca@gmail.com.
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- You can click here to send your information and request directly to our customer hub and let us know your preferred dates to schedule a visit.
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- You will be contacted within one business day.
If your location is out of the BC, you can send some pictures from your driveway gate, and the operator by text message or email and call us to get our technician’s suggestions to resolve the issue on your driveway gate opener.
Royal Electronics Technology Center Co (Royal Gates) using the best gate automation technicians can repair the driveway gate operators. Our main service area is in Vancouver BC Canada. Victoria Island, Duncan, Gibsons, Nanaimo, Sechelt, Tofino, Port Alberni, Qualicum Beach, Parksville, Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey, Delta, White Rock, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Anmore, Langley, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack in British Columbia are our services areas.For more information on the installation methods and our previous project regards to “How to Install an Automatic Gate” please visit our YouTube channel.
