Basic Gate Maintenance Advice for Homeowners

If you have made a fairly large investment in a gate with an electric opener, you would certainly want your investment to keep paying off in the long term. For this, you need to provide proper maintenance. That way, gate repair will be required less often. Here are some practical tips on how to provide the best maintenance.

Comprehensive Gate Maintenance Is Key

All residential gate openers require proper care to operate effectively in the long run. You need to provide basic cleaning on a regular basis. Leaves, twigs and other debris accumulating on the gate track and around the wheels have to be removed. The control box and the motor unit must remain clean and protected. Seal any hole in the control box to prevent insects and small reptiles from getting inside and damaging the safety sensors.

Clean and polish all metal parts with the use of an appropriate solvent recommended by the manufacturer. The screws of sliding gate wheels and swing gate hinges have to be tightened with the use of an appropriate screwdriver. Just make sure that they are not too tight.

After the metal parts become perfectly clean, they will need proper lubrication. Use light oil approved by the manufacturer of the opener. Be careful not to use too much lubricant. Apply it sparingly for best results. The metal parts should move freely without feeling slippery.

The panels of the gate require maintenance as well. If they are made from wood, you need to apply a preservative on a regular basis. Regular repainting is recommended as well. This will increase the level of protection. Steel and wrought iron gates, on the other hand, require less maintenance. They will benefit from cleaning. Find out how often recoating will be required.

If you think that the work is too much or too complex, you should consider hiring a professional maintenance service. Call the experts from gate repair company Edmonds for assistance.