After months of summer, autumn is finally here. As the days get shorter and the weather starts to change, now is a good time to get your home and garden ready for the months ahead – and that includes your entrance gates.

Your electric gates have been working hard throughout the summer, opening and closing as you come and go, welcoming visitors and helping to keep your property secure. Before the seasons change, it’s worth giving them a quick once-over to make sure everything is looking good and working as it should.

So, what jobs should be on your end-of-summer electric gate maintenance checklist? Let’s break it down.

Make sure everything is operating as it should

After a busy summer of coming and going, it’s worth giving your gates a quick once-over to make sure everything is still operating as it should. Run them through a normal opening and closing cycle and pay attention to how they move and sound. Are they opening and closing smoothly? Do you notice any electric gate problems like unusual noises, jerky movement or delays that weren’t there before?

There’s no need to diagnose or attempt to repair anything yourself. This is simply about spotting whether anything has changed from the way your gates normally operate. If everything seems as it should, there’s nothing more you need to do. If you do notice anything unusual, it’s worth mentioning it to a qualified professional who can take a closer look.

This is also a good time to check the access controls you use regularly, including keypads, intercoms and remotes. If your remote is becoming less responsive or only works from a shorter distance than usual, the battery may simply need replacing. It’s a small bit of seasonal housekeeping that can help avoid an unnecessary inconvenience as the wetter autumn weather arrives.

Trim back overgrowth and clear away summer debris

Summer can bring its fair share of dust, plant growth and other debris, so the end of the season is a good opportunity to clear the area and make sure your gates are ready to face the changing and potentially more challenging conditions ahead. As part of your end-of-summer electric gate maintenance, take a few minutes to check that the area around your gates is clear and that nothing is obstructing their movement or safety equipment.

For swing gates, check the space in front of and behind the gates as they open and close. For sliding gates, inspect the route the gates travel along, paying particular attention to the track, where dust, twigs, stones, spider webs and other loose debris can collect.

It’s also worth checking around the gate’s sensors. Make sure they’re clear and unobstructed, with no dirt, debris or vegetation affecting the area around them. If plants or branches have encroached on the gate’s operating area, trim them back where appropriate to maintain a clear space around the entrance.

Look out for signs that moving parts need attention

If your earlier checks have picked up something like a squeak, slightly stiffer movement or a gate that doesn’t seem quite as smooth as usual, it may be worth thinking about whether the moving parts need lubricating. You can also carry out a quick visual check, looking at accessible hinges, rollers and joints to see if they appear dry after a season of heat and intense use.

This is particularly worth considering before the colder, wetter weather sets in. As temperatures drop, moisture around exposed hinges, joints and rollers can freeze, increasing friction and making movement stiffer. Applying a suitable lubricant before the colder months arrive can help keep these components moving seamlessly and reduce the chance of ice affecting them.

Give your gate a post-summer clean with soap and water

Last but definitely not least, cleaning. While this might not be a check in the same way as looking at how your gates operate or examining the space around them, it’s still an important part of electric gate maintenance, especially after a busy summer.

If you’ve chosen one of our galvanised and powder-coated iron gates, you won’t be coming out of summer worrying about repainting it before the wetter weather sets in. Galvanisation provides a permanent rust-resistant coating, while the powder-coated finish adds another layer of protection and gives the gate its smart, finished appearance.

Even so, that doesn’t mean your gate won’t benefit from a clean. Pollen, dust, cobwebs and everyday outdoor grime can build up over the warmer months, so a gentle wash with warm water, a mild detergent and a soft-bristled brush is an easy way to freshen up the entrance and keep your gate looking its best as autumn begins.

When to book a professional gate service

The checks above are simple things you can do yourself as part of getting your gates ready for autumn, but they’re not a replacement for professional servicing. So, how often should electric gates be serviced?

For a typical residential property, we recommend having your electric gates professionally serviced every 12 months, while gates in busier commercial settings, or those exposed to harsher conditions, may need servicing more frequently. If your annual service is due around the end of summer, booking it before autumn gets fully underway can be a sensible way to have the mechanical and electrical parts of your system checked before the colder months arrive.

Those are some of the key checks and electric gate maintenance tips to keep in mind before autumn arrives! Whether your gates are due their annual service or you’re thinking about investing in a new entrance this autumn, we can help.

At North Valley Forge, we’ve been designing, manufacturing and installing bespoke electric gates for more than three decades now, earning a reputation as one of the UK’s leading manufacturers. Combining skilled craftsmanship and unbeatable customer support, we’re here to help you find the right solution for your home, from choosing something new to keeping your existing gate running smoothly all year round.

Ready to give your entrance some attention before the seasons change? Get in touch on 01282 677300 or request a free brochure today.