What happens during a professional gate servicing visit?

Preliminary checks

• Visual inspection
• Site condition
• Early fault signs

The engineer begins by speaking with the gate owner or site contact (which may be you!) to gather key details. They ask about recent faults, unusual behaviour, or environmental damage. Then, they’ll visually inspect the entire gate system before touching anything. They look for obvious signs of wear, impact damage, or misalignment.

Next, the engineer verifies the installation environment. That involves checking whether vegetation, dirt, or debris has built up near the hinges, motor, or safety sensors. They also examine the gate posts and mounting brackets to make sure nothing has shifted or weakened. At this stage, the engineer will also take note of any visible corrosion, paint flaking, or stress marks on welded joints. These early checks provide a useful working overview before they begin the more detailed testing phase.

Safety testing

• Edge response
• Beam sensors
• Force limits

Once the initial checks are done, that then free up the engineer to move on to test the safety devices. They check every safety edge on the gate and confirm the system registers them properly. If the gate has photocells or light curtains, one check involves deliberately breaking the beam to make sure the gate responds correctly. They’ll also ensure the gate stops or reverses as required by EN 12453 standards.

The engineer times the gate’s closing and opening cycles to ensure they fall within safe speed parameters. If the system uses force limitation, they’ll use a calibrated testing device to measure the gate’s resistance force at different points of travel. They log all results and compare them to the legal safety thresholds. They’ll also check that any emergency stop functions operate immediately and reliably when triggered, and ensure that signage is visible and legible where required.

Electrical and motor inspection

• Wiring condition
• Terminal checks
• Motor response

Once safety devices pass inspection, the engineer opens the motor housing. That will be examined for signs of overheating, water ingress, frayed wiring, or loose terminals. If the control board has diagnostic LEDs or a fault memory, the engineer reads these for recent error codes or irregularities.

They check all connections in the junction box and test the power supply. If the motor uses encoders, limit switches, or battery backup, the function of each of these will be verified in turn. They examine the cabinet for insects, dirt, and moisture that may affect long-term reliability. If the system includes intercoms or access control, they inspect these too and test integration with the gate logic. The engineer also checks for signs of wear on drive belts, pinions, or worm gears depending on the motor type, and confirms that all electrical covers and gaskets are intact and secure.

Gate and hardware maintenance

• Hinge condition
• Track alignment
• Lubrication points

The engineer examines the gate leaves, hinges, and stops for play, sagging, or wear. They manually operate the gate to assess resistance and balance. If the gate has wheels or tracks, these will be checked for alignment, rust, and debris.

They tighten hinge bolts, clean tracks, lubricate moving joints, and apply anti-corrosion treatment if needed. For sliding gates, they clean the rack and pinion and inspect gear wear. For swing gates, they check the arm connections and locking mechanism. If anything drags or catches, these will be addressed immediately to prevent further wear. They also look for fatigue in brackets, distortion in arms, and elongation of fixing holes, which can all lead to long-term alignment issues.

Final adjustments and performance check

• Cycle testing
• Manual release
• Service record

Almost done – now the engineer runs the gate through multiple full cycles. They test the manual release mechanism, and if necessary provide a quick recap on how to use it. They’ll also adjust the gate’s limits, force settings, and delay timers as needed for smooth and controlled movement.

Before finishing, the engineer reviews all work done, and can also answer any questions that you might have (or any from your family, or staff – depending on whether it’s a domestic or commercial electric gate). They record all test results, note any future maintenance needs, and confirm the next recommended service interval. If the gate is due for a compliance inspection or insurance documentation, the engineer provides the necessary service record or performance certificate.

That’s all there is to it! If you have any further questions about gate servicing, or our own automated gate kits and accessories here at Gate Auto, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team. We have more than three decades of experience to our name, so you can always count on our team to give you answers in as much or as little detail as you need. You can always give us a call on 01282 677 300. We’re here to help!