Why has my electric gate stopped working?
Most electric gate faults come down to a handful of things: no power, flat remote batteries, a blocked or dirty photocell, the manual release left unlocked, or something jammed in the track or under the gate. Check those first. If it's still not working, call us on 0113 414 1353. We repair any electric gate, including ones we didn't fit.
Below are the checks to try, a table of common symptoms and what usually causes them, and the point where you should stop and leave it to an engineer.
Is it safe to check an electric gate yourself?
Some checks, yes. An electric gate is a moving machine with mains power going into it, so keep to the simple stuff.
Fine to do:
- Change the batteries in your remote or fob
- Check the power to the gate is on
- Gently clean the photocell lenses with a soft cloth
- Clear leaves, stones or ice from the track or the gate's path
- Use the manual release, the way you were shown at handover
Leave to an engineer:
- Opening the control box or touching any wiring
- Adjusting the motor force or the open and close limits
- Bridging out or bypassing the photocells or safety edges
- Forcing the gate by hand without using the manual release
If you're clearing anything from the gate's path, switch the power off first so it can't move while your hands are there.
What should I check first?
- Power. Is everything else in the house working? Has there been a power cut? Most gates have an isolator switch near the gate or in the house. Check it's on, and check whether a breaker has tripped in the fuse board. If a breaker trips again straight away, leave it off and call us.
- The remote. Change the battery. Then try a second remote, or the keypad if you have one. If the keypad opens the gate and the remote doesn't, it's the remote.
- The photocells. These are the small sensors facing each other across the opening. If anything breaks the beam, the gate won't close. Look for a bin, a parked car, a plant that's grown, a spider's web or a sensor that's been knocked out of line. Wipe the lenses gently.
- The manual release. If someone opened the gate by hand during a power cut, the release may still be unlocked. The motor can run without moving the gate. Lock it again the way you were shown.
- Anything in the way. On a sliding gate, check the track for stones, leaves and ice. On a swing gate, check nothing's dragging under the leaves.
- Restart it. Switch the gate off at the isolator, wait a minute, then switch it back on. That clears some faults on the control board.
Common electric gate faults and what causes them
| What's happening | Usual cause | What you can check |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing happens at all | No power, a tripped breaker or a dead remote | Power, the isolator, the fuse board, remote batteries |
| Opens but won't close | A blocked, dirty or misaligned photocell | Clear the opening and clean the lenses |
| Motor runs but the gate doesn't move | Manual release left unlocked, or a worn gear | Lock the release. If it still won't move, call us |
| Stops halfway or reverses | Something in the way, a safety edge triggering, or a setting that's drifted | Clear the path. If it keeps happening, call us |
| Remote only works up close | A weak remote battery | Change the battery, try another remote |
| Slow, noisy or grinding | Worn hinges or rollers, or debris in the track | Clear the track, then book a service |
| One leaf moves, the other doesn't | A motor or wiring fault on that side | Nothing to check yourself. Call us |
| Keypad or intercom dead, remote fine | A fault in the access control | Nothing to check yourself. Call us |
When should I stop and call an engineer?
Stop using the gate, switch it off at the isolator and ring us if:
- The gate is stuck open or closed and the checks above haven't sorted it
- It has hit a car or a person
- It's moving on its own or unpredictably
- It won't stop when the photocells or safety edges are triggered
- The motor is smoking, hot or making loud noises
- The gate is leaning or feels loose
- Any cables or electrical parts are exposed or damaged
A gate that feels unsafe shouldn't be used, even if it still opens. Our electric gate safety guide explains what the safety devices are there for.
Do you repair gates you didn't install?
Yes. We repair and service any electric gate, whoever fitted it. Here's one of our Google reviews from someone whose gates were fitted by another company.
"Came out quickly to fix a problem on the gates we purchased from another local company. Quick response, fantastic workmen, gates now working as they should. Wish I'd used this company from the start!"
Emma D., Google review
We're accredited installers for Nice and DEA, and we'll explain what's wrong in plain English before anything gets fixed.
"...Keith knows what he's talking about and is the only person that has explained why my gate isn't working and what hes done to fix it..."
Richard C., Google review
See our electric gate repairs and servicing page, or ring 0113 414 1353, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Repair or replace?
Most faults are a repair: a photocell, a control board, a remote, a worn hinge or a motor. Sometimes the gate itself is the problem. If it's warped, weak or sagging on its hinges, new motors won't fix it for long.
We'll tell you straight which it is. If a new gate is the better answer, you can see a starting price with the instant quote.
How do I stop it happening again?
A yearly service catches most of these problems before they stop the gate: worn hinges, drifting settings, failing photocells and tracks full of debris. Busier gates need checking more often. Our guide on how often electric gates should be serviced covers what a service includes and what you can do yourself in between.
Electric gate repair questions
Why does my electric gate open but not close?
Usually a photocell. If anything breaks the beam between the two sensors across the opening, the gate won't close. Check for a bin, car, plant or cobweb in the way, and wipe the lenses gently.
Why has my gate stopped working after a power cut?
If someone opened it by hand during the power cut, the manual release may still be unlocked, so the motor runs without moving the gate. Lock the release again. If that's not it, check the isolator and the fuse board.
How do I open my electric gate manually?
Use the manual release, with the key or tool you were given at handover. If you don't have it or don't know where it is, call us rather than forcing the gate.
Do you repair electric gates fitted by other companies?
Yes. We repair and service any electric gate, whoever fitted it. Ring 0113 414 1353, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.
