Electric gates not opening or closing: what to do

Electric gates not opening

A gate that stays shut does not necessarily need a new motor. The command, power supply, safety equipment and moving parts all need consideration. For example, Nice's ROBUS manual distinguishes a transmitter problem from a command that reaches the controller but cannot start movement. That manual covers particular sliding-gate operators, not every installation.

Use what you already noticed during normal use. Do not operate the gate again to answer these questions.

Nothing moved

Record whether the gate was silent or made a click, hum or other sound. Note any warning light you could see from your normal position. Tell the repairer which control you used: a remote, keypad, intercom or wall button.

If you already know another control worked earlier, include that fact and when it happened. It may help the engineer separate a control problem from a wider fault. It does not prove that the gate is safe to use.

One leaf moved, or the gate stopped part way

On a pair of swing gates, say which leaf moved and where it stopped. Describe it from a clear viewpoint, such as looking out from the property. For a sliding gate, describe the stopped position. A photograph from outside the movement area can be clearer than an estimated distance.

Record any unusual sound or visible damage. Do not push the other leaf, pull the gate along its track or repeat the movement for a video.

Electric gates not closing

Separate a gate that stays open from one that starts closing and reverses. That distinction is useful when reporting the fault. Neither behaviour identifies a single cause.

The gate stayed open

Say whether it normally closes automatically or waits for a command. Note whether that usual behaviour has changed. Include any known change to an access schedule or recent work on the system.

Photocells are sensors that use a light beam. In the ROBUS manual's diagnostic examples, a photocell input can prevent movement. This is one possible explanation, not a diagnosis of your gate. Do not cover, bridge or disconnect a sensor to make the gate close.

The gate started closing, then stopped or reversed

Record whether it stopped immediately, midway or near the closed position. Say whether it reversed fully or only moved back a little. Note any object or damage that was already visible from a safe place.

Leave inspection of the track, hinges, safety edges and controls to the repairer. Safety edges detect contact; increasing the motor force or defeating a safety input can create a crushing hazard. Do not try to prove that a sensor works by standing in the opening or placing an object in the gate's path. HSE warns that photoelectric beams alone do not guarantee detection of a person.

Damage and unexpected movement need prompt help

Keep others away if the gate is leaning, hanging loose, off its track or moving unexpectedly. Report visible cable damage, a damaged control enclosure, flooding, smoke or a burning smell. Do not approach equipment to investigate those signs.

HSE identifies falling gates, uncontrolled movement and water-damaged electrical equipment as hazards. An open gate may also leave a site unsecured. Tell the site manager or installer about both the fault and the access problem.

Do not follow a generic manual-release or reset sequence from another gate model. Ask the installer to confirm the instructions for your complete installation. If you cannot leave the property, make that clear when calling. If there is immediate danger to a person, use 999.

What a repair company checks

A repair company will check the gate and its controls to find the cause. You can help by reporting what you already know or can see from a safe position. Do not operate the gate again to check.

Debris or an obstruction

Debris can be caught in a sliding gate's track, or an obstruction can lie in the path of a swing leaf. Report anything already visible from a safe distance. Do not clear it.

A flat battery

A flat battery is most often in a remote handset. Some installations also have a backup battery in the control enclosure. Tell the repairer when the handset battery was last changed and whether a second handset behaved the same way. Never open the control enclosure.

Damaged or water-affected wiring

The repairer may check buried cable to the gate, cable to the photocells and connections inside the control enclosure. Report any visible cable damage or standing water. Do not go closer.

A lost remote signal

The repairer may check the receiver, aerial or handset programming. Say whether one handset stopped working or all of them did, and whether a keypad or intercom still worked.

A tripped protective device

The repairer may check the RCD, circuit breaker or fuse in the consumer unit feeding the gate. This is normally in the building, away from the gate. Say whether the supply has tripped and when. A device that trips again straight away is reporting a fault. Tell the repairer and leave it off.

These are usual places a repairer looks, but none identifies the fault on a particular gate. This list is not a diagnosis and it is not a set of repair instructions. Do not work through it yourself.

Your fault notes for the repair company

Not sure what a part is called? The gate terms glossary names the parts of an entrance with a labelled drawing.

You can gather this information from memory, existing records and a safe position. Leave anything you do not know blank. There is no need to inspect the mechanism.

Site and access

The gate's postcode, where it has stopped, and whether people or vehicles cannot enter or leave. Mention a shared entrance, school or other site where people may approach.

Gate and equipment

Sliding or swing; one leaf or a pair. Add the make and model from your paperwork. Use a visible label only if you can read it without approaching the mechanism or opening a cover.

What happened

The control used, the movement or lack of movement, and any sound or externally visible message. Copy a displayed fault code exactly if already available. Codes and flashing patterns vary by model.

When it started

The last time it worked normally, whether the fault was intermittent, and any recent power cut, storm, impact or work nearby. Record the timing without assuming it caused the fault.

Existing documents

The installer's details, user instructions and latest service record. Mention any earlier repair for the same symptom.

For example: "Our two swing leaves opened this morning. The left leaf stopped halfway when closing, viewed from inside the property. We stopped using the gate. The entrance is partly blocked. We have the installation manual and can send a photograph taken from the house." This is a sample description, not a reported GateHQ job.

Arrange a repair assessment

Contact the original installer if you have their details. Otherwise, browse companies that list electric gate repairs. Ask whether they work on your equipment and can assess the fault and the gate's safety.

Agree the attendance arrangements and any diagnostic charge with the company. Our guide to repair quotes and costs explains what to ask about labour, parts and exclusions. If you need to understand the assessment scope, read what a gate safety check covers.

Request a gate repair assessment through GateHQ's shared enquiry service. A request does not book a visit or guarantee a response. Confirm availability directly with the company.

These public profiles can help you compare services. Confirm the work you need directly with each firm.

• 1st Call Electric Gates
• 360 Automations Ltd
• A1 Gates

GateHQ compiled this information from the sources below. The review date records when GateHQ last checked those sources, and nothing more: it is not an inspection of your gate and not a professional safety assessment. Always speak to a qualified gate engineer for a full assessment of the installation. The symptom notes help you describe a fault to a repair company. They cannot confirm that an installation is safe, and they are not a substitute for an engineer attending the site.