If you have an automatic gate at the end of your driveway, you want to make sure that it keeps working the way that it should. That way you can get in and out of the driveway without having to get out of your car and move the gate. If it stops working, there are several reasons that it might not be working. 

1. Rodents

You might not realize it, but rodents can cause a lot of problems when it comes to electrical devices. There are several reasons for that. One reason is that the rodents are just like you, they want to find somewhere that's nice, comfy, and safe to sleep. That means that they may find electrical boxes a nice place to sleep. Another reason that rodents may be the problem when it comes to your malfunctioning electrical gate is the fact that rodents like to chew on the insulation that coats the wiring. That can cause the wiring to fray or for naked wires to touch, which could short out the system. Some insulation for wires is made out of soy, which is really attractive to hungry rodents, who also have an instinctual need to chew because their teeth keep growing. 

2. Corrosion

Another thing that could cause problems and could keep your electrical gate from working is corrosion. Because that gate and its electrical systems are outside and exposed to the elements, they are at risk for corrosion. If there is corrosion, it can eat through connectors, wires, and circuits. All of those things can make is so that the gate only works intermittently or not at all. The problem with corrosion is that it's not always easy to immediately see.

If it's inside of a connector, the only way you can see it is to take apart the connection and see what is going on in there. If there is obvious corrosion, you may be able to clean it up and get the gate working again, but it may have already done the damage to the wiring or electrical system, meaning it doesn't matter how much you clean it up, you are still going to have a malfunctioning gate. 

If you have an electric gate, you want to make sure that it keeps working well. If it isn't working, then you may want to call an electrician to come out and look at the gate for you and see if they can figure it out. For more information, contact your local gate repair service.