A gate that opens but won't close is usually the operator doing its job: something is telling it that closing isn't safe. Most of the time that's a safety device (a photo eye or safety edge) that's dirty, misaligned or failing, something in the gate's path, or a power or battery problem. Less often it's limit or auto-close settings, a worn part, or a gate that binds. We connect you with independent local gate pros who track down which it is, without bypassing the safety devices.
Sound familiar?
- Opens on the remote but won't close at all
- Starts to close, then reverses with nothing in the way
- Closes partway and stops
- Used to close by itself, now stays open
- Won't close only at certain times of day
- Closes on the keypad but not the remote, or the other way round
What a gate tech typically checks
- Photo eyes: power, alignment, lenses and wiring
- Safety edges and loop detectors for faults
- Battery, charger, solar panel and line power
- Limit, force and auto-close timer settings
- Whether the gate moves freely by hand, with power off
Before you call
- What the gate does when it tries to close, step by step
- Whether any sensor lights are off or blinking
- Opener brand and model, if you can see the label
- Anything new near the gate: landscaping, a parked trailer, a moved bin
Questions
Why does my gate refuse to close only at sunrise or sunset?
Low sun shining straight into a photo eye's receiver can blind it, which the operator reads as an obstruction. A pro can re-aim the sensors, swap which side sends and which receives, or add a hood.
My gate used to close by itself. Why did it stop?
Many operators close automatically on a timer after opening. If that stopped, the cause may be the timer setting, a safety device holding the gate open, or a power or battery problem. Check your manual before changing settings, and call a pro if it doesn't come back.