Gate opener repair
Your swing or slide gate stopped for a reason, and we find it. You hear the price before we start, and the gate is left working and safe.
Signs it's this
- The gate hums or clicks but does not move
- The gate opens but will not close, or closes and immediately reverses
- The remote and keypad both do nothing, but the wall of the operator box has a light on
- The gate drags, scrapes the ground or binds against the post
- A solar-powered operator that worked all spring is dead after a hot summer
- The gate stops partway and the operator beeps or flashes an error code
Do this now
Keep people, kids, pets and cars out of the gate's path. If the gate is stuck open or closed, use the operator's manual release key or lever to disengage the arm or drive, then move the gate by hand slowly. Do not force a gate that resists, and do not reach into the operator box.
What it costs
Starting prices, installed. You get the exact price in writing before any work starts.
| Gate opener repairPlus parts | $149 |
|---|---|
| Gate service call | $95 |
What we check on the visit
- Battery voltage under load, and for solar systems the panel, charge controller and battery bank
- Control board for burned components, water damage and fried surge-protection parts
- Limit settings or limit switches that tell the operator where open and closed are
- Safety photo eyes and sensing edges, which UL 325 requires on automatic gates
- Loop detectors in the pavement for exit and safety, and their wiring
- Hinges, posts and gate alignment, including posts that have shifted in clay soil
- Arm, chain or drive hardware for wear, and the manual release for a working fit
Smart upgrade
Gate back up? It can also answer to your phone.
Wi-Fi or cellular modules, phone keys and guest passes for many gate operators. We check the board first.
See smart gate access from $249
On the job
Where it fails
The ringed numbers are the parts this entry covers. Tap any number to see what fails and where the price starts.
Ringed in green: the parts this page covers.
1 Torsion spring
Springs are rated for a set number of cycles. When one snaps, the door suddenly weighs 150 to 250 pounds.
from $229Read the entry
2 Cable drum and cables
Cables fray and slip off the drum, and the door hangs crooked or stops partway.
from $149Read the entry
3 Opener motor
The motor hums or clicks but will not lift. Stripped gears and burned boards are common.
from $129Read the entry
4 Track
A bent or loose track throws the rollers out, and the door jams or comes off.
from $149Read the entry
5 Hinges and rollers
Worn rollers grind, wobble and wear the track. Cracked hinges let panels flex.
from $139Read the entry
6 Door photo eyes
Bumped out of line, the safety eyes make the door reverse or refuse to close.
from $120Read the entry
7 Solar panel
Dust, shade and summer heat cut the charge the gate battery needs overnight.
from $149Read the entry
8 Gate control box
Storm surges and heat burn control boards and wear out the backup battery.
from $149Read the entry
9 Gate operator arm
A worn or undersized arm strains and stalls on a long, heavy gate.
from $2,495Read the entry
10 Gate photo eye, left post
A blocked or misaligned eye stops the gate mid-swing for safety.
from $95Read the entry
11 Gate photo eye, right post
The matching eye on the far post. Both have to see each other.
from $95Read the entry
12 Vehicle loop
A cut or worn loop in the drive means the gate will not open for cars leaving.
from $95Read the entry
Equipment and options
- Swing gate operators
- Linear actuator or articulated arm units that push and pull a hinged gate. Brands we commonly see include LiftMaster, Viking, US Automatic and Mighty Mule.
- Slide gate operators
- Chain, rack or roller-driven units for gates that roll along a track or cantilever. Brands we commonly see include LiftMaster and US Automatic.
- Batteries and solar panels
- Backup batteries on AC units, and the battery and panel on solar units. Heat shortens battery life.
- Control boards
- The brain of the operator. Lightning strikes, water and power surges are the usual causes of failure.
- Photo eyes and sensing edges
- Safety devices that stop or reverse the gate when something is in its path. Misaligned or dirty eyes are a frequent cause of a gate that will not close.
- Loop detectors
- Wire loops cut into the pavement that sense a vehicle. Cracked asphalt and concrete can break the loop.
- Hinges, rollers and posts
- The mechanical side of the gate. A binding gate overworks any operator.
Repair it, or replace the operator?
The gate will not move and the operator has power
Usually a board, limit setting or safety-sensor fault. Repair first.
A solar gate is dead after summer
Test the battery and panel. A new battery often fixes it.
The gate drags or binds on a post
Fix the alignment or hinges first. A strained operator is a symptom, not the cause.
The operator is old, discontinued or needs a second major part
Compare repair against a new operator. We'll give you both prices.
The gate has no working safety sensors
Add them before anything else. An automatic gate without them is a safety problem.
What Texas does to gates
Summers above 100 degrees cook batteries and shorten the life of solar systems. Expansive clay soil around Round Rock, Georgetown and east of I-35 swells in wet weather and shrinks in drought, and that movement can tilt gate posts and misalign a swing gate until the operator strains. Ranch properties in Lakeway, Westlake and Dripping Springs often have long gates and a long wire run, which makes voltage drop a common problem.
D.L., 304 E Main St #204, Round Rock
Questions people ask on the phone
How much does gate opener repair cost near Austin?
A gate service call starts at $95, and opener repair starts at $149 plus parts. After we diagnose the problem you get the price in writing before we start. Prices for gates are estimates until we see the gate.
Why won't my gate close?
The most common reasons are a blocked or misaligned photo eye, a loop detector fault, or a limit setting that has drifted. The gate reverses when its safety system thinks something is in the way. We test each device and fix the cause.
Is it safe to open my gate by hand?
Yes, once the operator is disengaged with its manual release key or lever. Keep people and cars clear, move the gate slowly, and do not force it. Leave the operator disengaged and call us.
Do you repair gates for HOAs and property managers?
Yes. We work with property managers and HOA boards on community and commercial gates, with a written estimate and an itemized invoice.
What warranty comes with a gate repair?
One year on our labor. Parts carry the manufacturer warranty.
Something broke? Call the office.
(512) 777-0412Open daily 7am to 8pm. After-hours emergency line. 304 E Main St #204, Round Rock.