Why Annual Gate Servicing Matters: Protecting Your Gate Year After Year

Your automatic gate is one of the hardest-working features of your property. It operates through rain, heat, early mornings, and late nights often hundreds of times each month. And while a gate may seem simple from the outside, the motor, control board, safety beams, tracks, rollers, and automation components are all constantly working behind the scenes. 

That’s why an annual gate service is one of the smartest ways to protect your investment. It keeps your system running smoothly, prevents unexpected breakdowns, and extends the life of your electric gate NZ wide. 

Extend the Life of Your Gate & Motor 

Automatic gates in Auckland’s coastal climate face continual exposure to moisture, salt air, dust, and daily wear. Over time, these small stresses can lead to bigger problems. 

An annual service includes: 

• Cleaning and lubricating all moving components
• Checking wheels, rollers, hinges, and bearings
• Tightening brackets, fixings, and structural points
• Inspecting for rust, water ingress, and corrosion
• Realigning the gate if required
• Testing speeds, force levels, and travel limits 

 A simple tune-up can add years to the life of your automatic gate installation, giving you smooth, reliable performance all year round. 

Prevent Avoidable (and Costly) Breakdowns 

Most breakdowns don’t happen suddenly - they build up quietly over time. A gate that slows down, becomes noisy, or opens inconsistently is usually showing early warning signs. 

During a service, we look for: 

• Worn rollers 
• Weak or failing batteries 
• Damaged wiring 
• Misaligned safety beams 
• Water or moisture inside the motor 
• Corrosion around terminals 

Catching these early can save hundreds (sometimes thousands) in major repairs or emergency callouts. Find out more about Gate Automation Services for reliable automation solutions.

Insect & Slug Damage: A Surprisingly Common Problem in Auckland 

One of the biggest causes of control-board failure in Auckland is insect activity. 

Ants, spiders, moisture-seeking insects and even slugs often get inside motor housings and control boards. 

Once inside, they can cause:  

• Moisture trails 
• Corrosion 
• Short circuits 
• Blown fuses 
• Full control-board failure 

 Slugs in particular leave conductive slime trails that can instantly short components. 

As part of our Auckland gate service, we: 

• Open and inspect the motor housing
• Remove insects, webs, nests, and slugs
• Check seals and entry points
• Clean terminals and internal boards
• Reseal where needed 

 This alone prevents a huge percentage of the failures we see each year. 

Keep Your Property Secure 

Your gate is a major part of your overall security system. If it’s stuck open, not closing fully, or malfunctioning, your property becomes vulnerable. 

 Servicing ensures your: 

• Gate closes fully and locks correctly
• Safety beams work reliably
• Automation responds consistently
• Manual release operates when required
• Property, pets, and family remain safe 

For many homeowners choosing security gates for homes, servicing is essential for peace of mind. 

Smoother, Quieter, More Reliable Performance 

Over time, gates naturally become rougher or noisier due to friction or misalignment. Servicing restores that “new gate” feel. 

 After a service, customers commonly report: 

•  Quieter movement
• Smoother travel
• Faster response
• Reduced strain on the motor
• Improved day-to-day convenience 

This applies to all types of aluminium sliding gates, timber driveway gates, steel swing gates, and more. 

Real Example: Preventing a $650 Control Board Failure 

A customer in Herne Bay recently booked a routine service after noticing their gate was “slightly noisy.” 

 We found: 

• Two worn rollers
• Web build-up inside the moto
• A slug in the housing moving toward the control board 

 A quick clean, roller replacement, and reseal prevented a $650+ control-board replacement. This is exactly why annual servicing matters. 

The Langford Gates Approach: Full Installation, Automation & Service Expertise 

At Langford Gates, we specialise in fabrication, installation, automation, and servicing. Because we handle the full process of building and installing your gate system and maintain it long-term. We understand exactly how these systems work. 

Whether your gate was fabricated by us or supplied by your builder or architect, we service, automate, and repair all major brands of electric gates NZ wide. 

 We work across: 

• Automatic Gates Installation
• Driveway Gates NZ
• Custom Gates Auckland
• Gate Automation Services
• Gate Repairs & Servicing 

Annual servicing is the simplest way to keep your gate running reliably year after year. 

How Often Should You Service Your Gate? 

• For most homes: once per year
• For commercial or high-use sites: every 6 months 

If it has been more than 12 months since your last maintenance, now is the perfect time to book in. A well-serviced gate is smoother, safer, quieter and far less likely to fail unexpectedly. 

Our team handles every part of the process, ensuring your installation continues performing at its best. Book Your Annual Service today with Langford Gates and we’ll take care of the rest.