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Tag Archives: broken gate help


4 Easy Residential Automatic Gate Maintenance Tips

Having an automatic gate at your home is a great investment. It helps keep your property safe and also adds aesthetic appeal. Homeowners with automatic gates should keep their gates properly maintained. Manual gates do not require as much maintenance as automatic gates. Automatic gates feature mechanical components, such as motors that operate the gate, and that is why they need more maintenance. OC Gates encourages all if it’s clients to follow the maintenance procedures below for automatic gates on their home.

Keep It Clean!

Cleaning your gate not only keeps it looking its best, but it also keeps it from rusting and getting debris build up stuck in its electrical operating parts.

Keep The Pests Away

Part of keeping your gate clean includes making sure small vermin and rodents don’t get into parts of your gate or its operating system. Snails and slugs and spider webs can destroy circuit boards and bee’s nests and ant hills can corrode gate opener circuitry.

Check It For Safety

To make sure your gate is functioning properly, check that it is operating properly. In all areas it is supposed to function, such as sensing when to open and close, make sure it is working as it should. If there is an early-on detection, it could prevent future problems.

Lubricate Its Parts

Keep your gate operating smoothly by periodically lubricating it. The wheels, hinges and bearings all need lubricant to function properly.

Maintaining your residential gate keeps you and visitors safe. It also extends the life of the gate.

OC Gates offers several more maintenance tips and gate maintenance service options. Simply give us a call today and we would be happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Add Additional Security to Your Gate with an Intercom

Add another feature to your gate with an intercom! An intercom is a great way to add additional gate security and to also know who is by your property. Just as there are several options of gates to choose from, there are also several different types of intercom services to choose from. Below are a few different types you can install.

Residential Intercom System

If you have a home gate, you may look into a residential intercom system. This type of system works if someone looking to enter your property pulls up to your gate, they would hit a button that allows them to be connected with someone inside. Someone inside the property would respond by refusing entry or by entering a code that allows that individuals to come in. You can also program it to where the person can enter a code on their own on some models.

Programmable Intercom System

Common in both residential and commercial properties, the programmable intercom system has a keypad outside the entrance. This type of system has a code that is entered before the person will be allowed access inside the property. This type of system allows you to change the codes as frequently as you see fit.

Auto Dialer System

Larger building and apartment complexes typically use the auto dialer system for their gate. This system is similar to the intercom system because it dials the residence you are visiting so they can allow you entry onto the premises.

Whatever system you choose, know that having an intercom system makes your property that much more secure.

Gates are very successful at keeping unwanted visitors out, but intercom systems allow you full control on who enters and exits your property. Call OC Gates today to learn more about gates and intercom systems!

Commercial & Residential Gate Reliability

Often times people assume that gates are less reliable than garage doors. While this may seem like the case, this is not necessarily true. You may hear about more automatic gate problems than garage door problems simply because the routine gate maintenance is not getting performed as it should be, thus causing the gate to malfunction. There are some simple routine maintenance that can be done to help your gate function as efficiently and properly as possible.

Things like heat or humidity can affect the way your gate operates.

Some gates have a screw drive that need to be lubricated from time to time. Find some garage door opener lubrication spray at your local handyman store. You will want to research what type of gate you have and properly lubricate the the screws. If you do not know where you should be applying lubricant, you can always reach out to the experts at OC Gates. We would be happy to assist or give you information about where to apply the spray. Often times, several areas need lubricant. The screws, hinges and other overlooked areas. That is why it is important that you know which type of gate you have, and how it functions.

Maintenance not only helps your gate operate smoothly, but it also helps extend the life of your gate.

A simple lubrication application a couple times a year can make all the difference. If you do not want to maintain your gate yourself, simply call over an expert from OC Gates. We service and maintain gates yearly, for a reasonable price. This simple step will keep your gate from malfunctioning when you least expect it, so consider it worth it!

If you have any other questions or need a new gate installed in Orange County, call OC Gates today!

How to Properly Protect Your Security Gate From Power Surges

Power surges can cause damage to electrical equipment. Whether it is from the summer heat, or booming thunderstorms, security gates can be damaged during these types of events. It is a good idea to know how to protect your gate opener from power surges.

Power Surges and Security Gates

Lightning or power surges can damage your security gate opener because the gate is similar to any other type of electrical equipment. Power from electrical storms can severely damage your gate to the point where it may be inoperable. In most cases, the power surge will blow out on of the gate operator’s circuit boards. Once the board gets a spike in electricity, it undergoes significant damage that causes it to stop working. To get the gate opener properly running again, the damaged circuit board must be replaced by an electrical professional.

In an instance where the electrical equipment has been damaged, some people will simply replace the circuit board. However, to correctly fix the issue, you must reduce the risk caused by the power surge in the first place. All security gate openers come with built-in surge protection, but to in order to provide complete protection from power surges, you should have professional surge protection equipment installed. This includes a protection plan with safety equipment.

Driveway Gate Surge Protection Plans

There are several options for security gate and gate opener surge protection plans. OC Gates prides itself in our ability to quickly address a problem and solve it promptly. Our team of trained technicians can answer any questions you may have, as well as provide you with excellent customer service. If you have a gate that needs proper surge protection in Los Angeles, please do not hesitate to call us. We offer free consultations and are here to help you.

Importance of Functioning Safety Devices in Automatic Driveway Gates

We all know that gates offer an extended level of security, but there are actually safety devices working inside the system. In all automated security gates there are different safety devices. Typically there are two devices (depending on the model) that provide a response to the gate opener to keep it from injuring people and destruction. A correctly working safety device can not only prevent damage, but it can also prevent injuries. That is why testing and keeping your gate opener’s safety devices in working order is extremely important. Below are some simple ways you can test your security gate opener’s safety devices.

Photo Eye

A photo eye works by scanning the area in the path of the security gate to make sure nothing is blocking the way. You can make sure the photo eye is working by simply blocking the photo eye as the gate is closing. You can put any object in the path of the photo eye. Try to close the gate next, and if the photo eye can sense the object then it will not close. If the gate does in fact close when there is an object in it’s path, then you know your photo eye is not functioning properly.

Detector Loops

First, locate the vehicle detector loop by looking for sensors embedded into the pavement or asphalt in front of the gate. Next, park a vehicle on the detector loop sensors and attempt to close it. Be cautious when administering this test, because if your vehicle detector loops are broken, the gate will close and your vehicle could be at risk of getting damaged. We suggest having someone sit in the vehicle in case they need to move it right away.

Hit a Small Object

Today’s modern security gates have options that allow them to sense when an object is hit. Allow the gate to hit an object you put in its path. If the gate touches the object and is working properly, it should reverse its closing action as to not hit or crush the object. If the gate continues to close when an object is put in its path, then the sensor may be broke or may have gone bad.

If your gate fails any of the above tests, we recommend you get an expert out to help repair the issue immediately. For your safety and those around you, please test your gate’s safety devices frequently. OC Gates is available to assist with any maintenance or gate repairs you might need.

Driveway Gate Repairs – HELP! My Gate Stopped Working!

Security Gate Installation & Repair Orange CountyIf your gate is malfunctioning, this could be because of several different reasons. The first thing to check is the power. The gate operator needs power to run, so first make sure that the gate’s electrical breaker is turned on. If you don’t have an allocated breaker for your gate, or if you simply do not know where it is, then look for obvious signs indicating whether or not the gate has power. These can be simple things, like a noise coming from the operator when you press the remote or buttons lighting up when you press them. If you find that your system simply needs new batteries or power, then you can fix the problem on your own. However, if the issue still persists, it may be an obstruction or something else.

If you have determined that the gate does have power, and it is still not operating, then the next thing to do would be to make sure nothing is obstructing its movement. Sometimes things as small as a tiny rock on the track or a piece of trash caught in the gears can cause it to malfunction. If something is blocking it or interfering with the system, then after it is removed, you will need to reset your motor. Removing the object and resetting is the best way to get things up and running again. If you remove all objects, reset, and the issue is still there, then you will need to turn to the experts.

If you have exhausted all the suggestions above, and your machine is still faulty, then you will need to call a professional gate service company, such as OC Gates, for further assistance. They will be able to pinpoint the issue and troubleshoot until the problem is resolved.

It is important to call gate installation and repair experts when the following happens:

  • If your gate’s chain is loose or touching the ground
  • If your gate is slamming against the post when it opens or closes
  • If you hear any type of unpleasant noise coming from your gate
  • If you notice the gate is moving slower than it typically does