Major winter weather conditions that could affect your

The great British weather can be temperamental at the best of times, but in winter it can be particularly harsh. Snow, ice and high winds can all cause havoc with every aspect of our lives, and this includes the functionality of electric gate automation systems.

Thankfully, all of these issues can easily be rectified. With this in mind, here are the problems that different weather conditions pose, and a summary of how you can solve the issues.

Snow and ice

Although a dusting of snow can look pretty and leave you feeling rather Christmassy, the unfortunate truth is that any amount of snow can cause your electric gate openers to malfunction.

If your gate’s photo sensors become blocked, then they’ll stop functioning. This is because the beam between the two sensors will be continually broken by the snow. Luckily though, the fix for this is incredibly simple. Just wipe the snow from both of your sensors and they’ll soon be operational again.

On top of this, if you have sliding electric gates that have a track on the ground, then you’ll need to check the track regularly. If the track becomes clogged with snow or ice, your gate will become unable to slide properly because it will either become physically blocked, or the snow and ice will trigger the obstacle detection function and stop the gates from sliding.

Rainfall

Although they’re electrical, electric gates are built to easily withstand heavy rainfall. However, if the rain is particularly heavy for a prolonged period of time, then underground motors may experience problems.

Foundation boxes for these motors have soakaways built in so that excess water can drain away from the inside. Although water will always get into these boxes, as long as drainage is sufficient then your motor will not sit fully submerged in the water for an extended period of time.

However, if your drainage is poor or your foundation box is placed at the bottom of a hill, then it may be possible for your motor to become fully submerged. If you’re concerned this may happen, then one great way of avoiding the problem is to run a drainage channel across the driveway to divert the water flow from reaching the foundation box in the first place.

High winds

Depending on the type of gate you have, the high winds we experience in winter can cause problems with your gate.

If you own an iron gate with an open pattern, then the wind is unlikely to cause you an issue unless you’re trapped in a huge storm. This is because the wind can pass through the gaps in the pattern. However, if your gate is close boarded, then it will experience a much higher amount of wind resistance. Thankfully, this problem can be overcome by fitting stronger electric gate openers.

If you’re still experiencing problems with your electric gate after following this advice, then please get in contact with one of our qualified engineers. A specialist technician will be able to tell you exactly what the issue is with your gate and safely carry out any repair work required.

Here at Gate Auto, we have over 30 years of experience in supplying and fitting high-quality gate automation. We provide a wide range of electric gate kits and garage door openers alongside an array of accessories to ensure you get the most out of your investment. Feel free to browse them right here on our site, or give us a call on 01282 677300!