Blog

Driveway and electric gate guides

Electric gates, sliding and swing gates, operators, keypads and access control for Southern California homes.

Guides

Gates: 21 guides

Keypad and intercom post beside a black iron swing gate at a Spanish-style home, thumbnail for the electric gate will not open guide, for homes near central Calabasas

Electric Gate Will Not Open: What to Check

Power, sensors, remotes and the manual release: a short checklist for an electric gate that will not open, and when to call a repair technician.

Learn more
Single swing black iron driveway gate with an arched top and scroll details, a white linear actuator arm on the gate post, at a two-story cream stucco home with a tile roof, with a tall palm tree and gravel beds with agave, thumbnail for the electric gate won't close guide, for homes near Santa Ana near French Park

Electric Gate Will Not Close All the Way

An electric gate that stops short or reopens usually has a blocked path, a dirty sensor or a gate that drags. Here are five safe checks and when to call.

Learn more
Redwood-look wood double swing driveway gate with black iron straps, a keypad post beside the gate, at a Spanish-style white stucco home with a terracotta tile roof, with ornamental grasses and flagstone pavers, thumbnail for the electric gate repair cost guide, for homes near central Norco

Electric Gate Repair Cost: What Changes the Price

Electric gate repair cost depends on what failed, the gate's condition and the safety devices. See what each fault involves and what a quote should list.

Learn more
Black steel double swing driveway gate with clear glass panels, a white linear actuator arm on the gate post, at a modern white stucco home with a flat roof, with desert shrubs and light stone boulders, thumbnail for the driveway gate installation cost guide, for homes near Old Encinitas near Vulcan Avenue

Driveway Gate Installation Cost: Sliding vs Swing

Driveway gate installation cost depends on the style, the driveway, the operator and the safety devices. Compare sliding and swing gates before you get a quote.

Learn more
Wood rail ranch driveway gate under a log crossbeam arch, with a dirt driveway, rolling dry hills and mountains behind, thumbnail for the sliding gate off track guide, for homes near central Stanton

Sliding Gate Off Track or Dragging

A sliding gate that drags, jumps or has left its track is heavy and unsafe to force. Here is what to do first, what not to do and when to call a technician.

Learn more
Single swing black iron driveway gate with an arched top and scroll details, a photo-eye post beside the gate, at a single-story beige stucco ranch home with a tile roof, with a tall palm tree and gravel beds with agave, thumbnail for the swing gate opener not working guide, for homes near central Goleta near City Hall

Swing Gate Opener Not Working: Arm, Motor, Battery and Solar

Swing gate opener dead, humming or not pushing the gate? See what the arm, motor, battery and solar panel are telling you and which checks are safe to try.

Learn more
Redwood-look wood double swing driveway gate with black iron straps, a mailbox on the wall beside the gate, at a two-story cream stucco home with a tile roof, with a tall palm tree and gravel beds with agave, thumbnail for the gate opener repair or replace guide, for homes near central Tustin

Gate Opener: Repair or Replace? A Guide by Age and Problem

Should you repair or replace a gate opener? A guide by age, parts, safety features and the kind of fault, with what to fix yourself and what to hand to a pro.

Learn more
White vinyl-look double swing driveway gate with a flat top, a keypad post beside the gate, at a two-story cream stucco home with a tile roof, with ornamental grasses and flagstone pavers, thumbnail for the gate keypad not working guide, for homes near downtown Palm Springs near the Art Museum

Gate Keypad, Remote or Intercom Not Working: Quick Fixes

Gate keypad dead, remote only works up close or the intercom won't open the gate? Match the symptom to the cause and try the safe checks before you call.

Learn more
Black aluminum privacy double swing driveway gate with narrow vertical slats, a keypad post beside the gate, at a gray stucco contemporary two-story home, with ornamental grasses and flagstone pavers, thumbnail for the gate access control guide, for homes near central Moorpark

Access Control for Gates: Keypads, Card Readers and Receivers

How gate access control works: keypads, card readers and fobs, radio receivers, intercoms and loops. What each does and what to ask before you buy.

Learn more
Black wrought-iron double swing driveway gate with simple vertical bars, a slim operator box on a concrete pad, at a two-story cream stucco home with a tile roof, with two fan palms and low rock beds, thumbnail for the emergency gate repair guide, for homes near west-central Yorba Linda near Casa Loma Avenue

Gate Stuck Open or Closed at Night: Safe Steps Before the Technician Comes

Gate stuck open or closed at night? Follow these steps to stay safe, find a simple cause, use the manual release and give a technician what they need.

Learn more
Single swing black iron driveway gate with an arched top and scroll details, a slim operator box on a concrete pad, at a gray stucco contemporary two-story home, with two fan palms and low rock beds, thumbnail for the electric gate maintenance guide, for homes near central Oxnard

Electric Gate Maintenance Checklist for Southern California

Should electric gates be serviced? Yes. See what to check monthly, what to leave to a technician and what a service visit should cover, in one checklist.

Learn more
Black steel double swing driveway gate with clear glass panels, a white linear actuator arm on the gate post, at a modern white stucco home with a flat roof, with a tall palm tree and gravel beds with agave, thumbnail for the driveway gate permit california guide, for homes near central Aliso Viejo near City Hall

Driveway Gate Permit and Fire Access Rules in California

Do you need a permit for an electric driveway gate? See what the state code says, why cities differ and how Knox boxes and key switches work for fire access.

Learn more
Single swing black iron driveway gate with an arched top and scroll details, a mailbox on the wall beside the gate, at a low mid-century modern home with a flat roof and block wall, with ornamental grasses and flagstone pavers, thumbnail for the ul 325 gate safety guide, for homes near central Rancho Mirage

Gate Safety Sensors and UL 325: What They Are and Why They Matter

UL 325 is the safety standard for gate operators. See what photo eyes, edge sensors and built-in sensing do, how many you need and why not to bypass them.

Learn more
White vinyl-look double swing driveway gate with a flat top, a small intercom box on the wall, at a two-story cream stucco home with a tile roof, with bougainvillea along the wall and a concrete driveway, thumbnail for the solar gate opener guide, for homes near central National City near City Hall

Solar Gate Opener Not Working: Panels, Batteries and Shade

Solar gate opener clicking, flashing red or dead? Match the symptom to a cause: shade, a dirty panel, a low battery or too many cycles. Know when to call.

Learn more
Black steel double swing driveway gate with clear glass panels, a keypad post beside the gate, at a Spanish-style white stucco home with a terracotta tile roof, with a citrus tree and low shrubs beside a concrete driveway, thumbnail for the sliding vs swing gate guide, for homes near central La Verne

Sliding or Swing Gate: Which Fits Your Driveway?

Sliding or swing gate? Compare space, slope, wind, upkeep and safety side by side, then use the decision questions to pick the one that fits your driveway.

Learn more
Gray aluminum louvered double swing driveway gate, a keypad post beside the gate, at a Spanish-style white stucco home with a terracotta tile roof, with a dry garden of sage and lavender with a gravel border, thumbnail for the community gate access control guide, for homes near central Santa Paula

HOA and Community Gates: Access Codes, Visitors and Repairs

Who fixes a community gate, how visitors get in and what the fire code and gate safety standards expect. Myths and facts for HOA boards and residents.

Learn more
Dark horizontal-slat metal gates between white houses, thumbnail for the sagging gate fix guide, for homes near central Buena Park near City Hall

Gate Will Not Latch or Is Sagging: Causes and Fixes

A sagging gate usually has loose hinges or a moving post, and the latch just follows. Follow the steps, learn what to avoid and when to call a technician.

Learn more
Wide double-leaf walnut-toned horizontal-slat estate gate between stone-clad walls with black steel columns, a modern estate home among conifers and a paver driveway, thumbnail for the gate control board guide, for homes near central Riverside

Gate Operator Control Board Lights and Error Codes: Where to Start

Gate board lights, beeps and error messages point to power, battery, sensor or obstruction faults. Read the signs, run safe checks and know when to call.

Learn more
Single swing black iron driveway gate with an arched top and scroll details, a mailbox on the wall beside the gate, at a gray stucco contemporary two-story home, with bougainvillea along the wall and a concrete driveway, thumbnail for the driveway gate materials guide, for homes near downtown San Diego near C Street

Iron, Aluminum or Wood Gate: How the Materials Compare

Compare wrought iron, aluminum and wood driveway gates on weight, upkeep, strength and the opener each one needs, with a short way to decide.

Learn more
White vinyl-look double swing driveway gate with a flat top, a small intercom box on the wall, at a Spanish-style white stucco home with a terracotta tile roof, with a tall palm tree and gravel beds with agave, thumbnail for the gate intercom system guide, for homes near central Lawndale

Gate Intercoms and Video Systems: What They Do and What to Ask

A gate intercom lets you talk to a visitor and open the gate from inside. See audio and video types, how they connect, power needs and questions to ask.

Learn more
Single swing light pine horizontal-board driveway gate in a ledgestone wall with a wood lintel, a mountain-style home, a paver driveway and aspen trees in fall color, thumbnail for the electric gate power outage guide, for homes near downtown Ventura near Main Street

Electric Gate in a Power Outage: Manual Release and Backup Battery

Power out and the gate is shut? Find the manual release, open the gate by hand safely and learn what a backup battery does and does not keep running.

Learn more
More topics

Other guide topics

Repair guidesCosts and pricesOpeners and remotesBuying guidesSafetySeasonal and weather

Need it fixed or replaced?

Call now or send your details. We will get back to you with the soonest appointment.

Call (213) 340-4232Request an estimate
Call (213) 340-4232