The leaves have started changing colour and falling to the ground. Autumn is arriving. You can feel the chill in the air that means winter is not far behind. In Western Canada, the winter winds can blow so very cold. The temperatures can drop to -40°C or lower in the coldest parts of the country. Those cold temperatures can wreak havoc on your garage and gate openers and operators.

The good news is that if you take proper precautions, you can help prevent issues with your gate openers so that you’re not left out in the cold with a gate that’s frozen shut.

In today’s blog, we’ll go over some helpful tips that you can follow to keep your gate operator from seizing up during the winter freeze.

Potential Problems That Can Arise

First, let’s take a look at the kinds of problems the cold weather can inflict on your gate opener and operator. After all, knowing is half the battle! If you know what kind of issues you’re trying to prevent, you’ll be better equipped to prevent them.

Frozen Components

The chill hand of winter can cause some parts of your gate system to seize up and become stiff, preventing them from doing their job. Springs, cables, and rollers can become susceptible to this problem.

Frozen Lubricant

Extreme cold can affect the lubrication in your gate system, causing it to thicken or harden. This can reduce its effectiveness, which means slower, jerky movements or even outright failure.

Contracting Materials

Cold temperatures can cause the materials used in your gate system to contract, leading to misaligned components, warping, or cracking, which negatively affects the operation of your gate or garage opener.

Battery Issues

The cold weather can cause your battery to discharge faster than usual. If your battery is too weak, it can’t provide sufficient power to open your gate effectively.

Electrical Issues

Frigid weather can have deleterious effects on the electronic components of your gate operator system, such as photo-eye sensors or control units. Wires may become brittle, or connectors may fail, causing malfunctions in your system. Ice can also build up on certain parts, leading to blocked sensors.

How to Solve Common Gate Opener Issues in Subzero Weather

Now that we’ve identified the main problems that your gate opener can face in subzero weather, let’s look at some solutions. For expert assistance, contact Creative Door Services™ to schedule a repair, inspection, or maintenance service. Our team is equipped to ensure your gate opener operates efficiently, even in the harshest winter conditions.

Visual Inspections

Regular visual inspections are a key aspect of any good maintenance plan. The same holds true for gate openers and garage door operators. Inspect your automatic gate for signs of visible wear and tear to parts such as cables, hinges, racks, chains, belts, or arms. You can also look for loose screws, nuts, or bolts at this time.

These issues can be small during the summer but can become much worse in the winter as snow and ice can cause even more damage.

Apply a Silicone-based Lubricant

There are a lot of different lubricants out there. Some are water-based, but for this tip you’ll want a silicone-based lube. It has a lower freezing point and so is less likely to suffer issues in the cold. If you find that your lubrication is freezing up, clean tracks and hinges with a degreaser, then apply a good silicone-based lube.

Silicone lube can also help with warped or contracted parts. If your gate system has warped or contracted parts thanks to cold weather, it can make it much more difficult for those parts to move as needed when opening your gate or garage door.

Please note that silicone-based lube should only be used on metal parts.

Clear Snow and Ice Away Immediately

If there is any snow accumulation around your gate, removing it right away will save you many headaches in the future. Doing so will prevent it from turning to ice, which makes it more difficult to remove.

If you have a slide gate, make sure you clear the tracks carefully, with a brush. Using salt or de-icers can damage the finish of your gate system.

You should also take care to ensure all sensors and control units are free from snow and ice. Ice on the photo-eye sensor, for example, may trigger the safety function and prevent your gate from closing.

Keep Your Gate in the Open Position if Snow is Forecast

It happens every winter—security gate owners find their gates frozen shut, so they need to call for help. Or, even worse, a car slid on snow or ice and collided with a closed gate, damaging the gate and its opener.

You can avoid becoming a victim of these problems by simply leaving your gate in the open position if heavy snow and cold are in the forecast. It may seem like it defeats the point of having a gate, but it is worth it to avoid costly damage to your gate.

Consider Adding a Heater for Extreme Lows

If you live in a city that experiences significantly lower temperatures, consider adding a heater to your gate opener’s gearbox can prevent ice and snow from building up and causing damage. When the coldest temperatures roll in, it can cause the oil in the opener’s gearbox to thicken, causing your gears to lock up.

Installing a heater on your gearbox is an easy solution to keeping your oil happy. You’ll have peace of mind knowing that your gate opener can operate throughout the winter, no matter how cold it gets.

Schedule a Tune-Up with a Professional

Security gates see a lot of cycles, especially if you and your family are coming and going often. That kind of use can lead to a lot of wear and tear over time, especially during the cold months, so scheduling a tune-up every so often can help make your gate opener last much longer. Take advantage of our residential and commercial planned maintenance programs to keep your gates running in top shape every season of the year!

For Maintenance on Your Gate Opener, Call Creative Door Services™

With cold weather on the way, you want to make sure your gate opener is prepared. Calling Creative Door Services™ means you’re getting expertise on your side that can help you with all your gate opener and gate operator needs, no matter what kind of weather you’re facing.

Contact us today for more information about our services and products. We have locations in Kelowna, British Columbia; Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta; Fort McMurray, Alberta; Regina, Saskatchewan; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Winnipeg, Manitoba.