Three Reasons Why Your Automatic Gate Isn't Quietly Gliding Shut
Posted on: 8 January 2018
Automatic gates give a luxurious feel to any home, but when they are not working correctly, they also make you feel quite annoyed! Loud gates which shudder and clank as they move don't make your home feel luxurious at all, so it's time to find out what is causing all the racket so you can get the problem fixed fast!
Gate parts get dirty
Obviously, you can't keep an automatic gate squeaky clean considering it spends all day outside exposed to the elements. However, a buildup of dirt in certain parts of the gate affects the amount of noise the gate makes.
For example, the bearings within the gate move as the gate opens and closes. Dirt buildup on the bearings mean they are grinding against each other as they move, and this grinding action creates noise. You must clean the dirt from the bearings and apply new oil lubricant so the bearings glide across each other.
Dirt on the gate track is another noise creator. As the gate tries to glide across the track, debris in its way creates a friction noise as the gate moves over it. Hose or sweep the track clean on a weekly basis to remove rubbish and vegetation particles.
Old gates run on chains
Old-style automatic gates used a chain mechanism to help the gate move. However, chains are not the quietest gate mechanism available because the metal clanks and clangs as it rotates through the opening or closing cycle. Changing the fence to a belt system reduces the noise component because belts glide almost silently. Your local fencing contractor can advise whether you can change your gate from a chain to a belt.
Gate motor is clogged
The gate motor is another area where gating technology has advanced to make the process quieter. Older-style automatic gates have a brush motor, and the brushes in the motor are another dirt collector. Once the brushes get clogged, they work harder to move, and that extra effort adds to the noise levels of your gate. By comparison, a brushless motor lasts longer and creates less noise just because there are fewer areas for the dirt to accumulate.
Now that the noise of your automatic gate has caught your attention enough to become an annoyance, call a fencing specialist and get it looked it. Whether the gate needs repair or replacing, you'll at least be able to find out how to make your gate once more feel like a luxury add-on to your home.
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