Service Agreements

Like a car or any complex machinery that sees daily use, driveway gates need regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance. That’s why we offer annual service agreements to keep your gates looking and working their best throughout the year.

With an annual service agreement, you get:

• Twice-a-year full service preventative maintenance
• Priority status for all service calls
• Lower hourly rates for repair work
• Customizable options for your unique needs

Buying a gate is an investment in your home; getting an annual service agreement is the best way to protect that investment. We also service gates installed by other companies, so if you bought a home with a pre-existing gate that doesn’t look or function the way you want, we can fix it!

Service Agreement Benefits

With our standard agreement, our technicians will automatically come to your property twice a year – once in the spring and once in the fall – to perform a full service system check on your gate. That includes:

• Inspecting and cleaning electrical contacts, wires, and terminals in the control box to ensure proper electrical continuity
• Checking hydraulic fluid lines and replacing fluid in operators
• Reviewing and adjusting belts, chains, and limits for proper gate closure
• Testing safety controls to ensure immediate responsivity to mechanical malfunctioning
• Inspecting bearings, motors, and hinges for visual wear and tear and lubricating as required
• Checking driveway sensors for continuity and correcting sensitivity settings
• Ensuring proper operation of radio receivers and antenna connections
• Testing batteries in battery backup units
• Checking proper operation of the telephone entry system

In addition to these benefits, customers with an annual service agreement receive priority status for any service calls throughout the year. This is especially valuable during periods of high call volume, such as after a lightning strike. Contract customers also pay a lower hourly rate than non-contract customers for any necessary repairs.

While most customers stick with a standard contract for maintenance twice a year, we can customize agreements to meet your specific needs, especially for commercial customers and customers with other high traffic or high security installations.

Contact us today for your personalized service agreement!

Frequently Asked Questions

When do you come out to service the gates?

We come out for scheduled maintenance twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall. We follow this schedule so that your gate receives fresh hydraulic fluid before the start of winter to help make sure everything is lubricated properly and nothing freezes up during the cold weather months to come. Meanwhile, our spring service is perfect for making sure your gate looks its best and is ready for the summer. If any additional repairs are needed at any time during the year, our 24/7 emergency service is always available.

Do you service gates you didn’t fabricate or install?

Yes! Our technicians know the ins and outs of practically every gate system on the market, and we regularly service many gates that we didn’t originally install. In fact, some of our happiest customers are ones who found we were able to fix long-standing problems they’d had with a gate installed by another company.

What if I have more than one set of gates at my property?

We customize our service agreements for your particular needs. If you have more than one set of gates on your property, let us know and we’ll be sure our agreement covers them!

Does your contract cover parts and labor throughout the year?

Our standard contract covers the parts and labor for the two scheduled services we perform, but it doesn’t include parts or labor for unexpected repairs or any emergency calls due to an unforeseen accident such as a lightning strike or a motor vehicle collision. We do, however, offer custom maintenance plans, and can provide a personalized proposal for your specific needs.

Do I have to be home when you come to service the gates?

No, no one needs to be home when our technicians are working on your gate. Most of our regular maintenance calls are made during business hours on weekdays while most people are out and about.

Can I schedule the spring and fall services for a specific day or time?

Yes, you certainly can. Just give our office a call, and we can schedule the date and time our technician will be on site to fit your schedule.

How do I know when you’ve been out to service our gates?

Our technicians will write up a service checklist while they’re on site and make note of anything that needs special attention. Our office then sends you an email with a copy of the checklist and any additional comments, notes, or price quotes based on our technician’s observations.

Tips For Keeping Your Gate in Good Shape

Don’t let snow get plowed up against your gate

One of the most common types of calls we get in the winter involves snow. Sometimes snow plows will push snow against the gate, and this can damage the motors: that’s why we ask you make sure your snow plow company hand-shovels around your gates. Keeping snow piled up against the gates can also increase the likelihood of premature rust or rot.

Keep the area clear of debris

Be sure to keep any debris (such as rocks, fallen tree limbs, etc.) away from the gate area. If the gate swings over something and it gets stuck, the system may need to be reset by our technicians before it starts working again.

Keep your photo eyes clear

Please be sure your gardeners keep the safety eyes clear of leaves and vines. If the eyes become blocked, the gates will not close (the system will act as though a pedestrian is blocking the eyes, so it will remain open for safety).

Touch up the paint every few years

Every few years, your gates will need a fresh coat of paint. This doesn’t affect the gate’s performance, but it does keep them looking their best. When we add a new coat of paint to your gates, we sand down any areas where the paint is less than perfect, and touch them up with a primer and a finish coat. Contact our office to schedule an appointment if your gate needs a touch up!

Look out for rot on wooden gates

Natural wooden driveway gates exposed to the elements for long enough will inevitably experience some rot. This is a natural process, however the speed at which it occurs can vary based on the type of wood the gates are made out of. If your gates are starting to show signs of rot, our expert carpenters can remove the rotted pieces and replace them with new ones. After a fresh coat of paint, the gates will look as good as new!

Look out for rust on iron gates

If you have a wrought iron driveway gate, there’s a chance it will eventually rust. While we hot dip galvanize all of our wrought iron gates to prevent rusting then coat them with a protective paint and primer, heavy impacts like a vehicle collision can chip those protective layers away and cause the metal to oxidize. If left for a long enough time, the rust will begin to eat away at the metal, weakening the gates. If your gates are starting to rust, let our expert welders get them in shape. We can sand down the rusted areas and re-prime and paint. We can also hot-dip galvanize the gates to help prevent any rusting in the future.

Get regular maintenance

Our systems are designed to last a long time, but they do require regular preventative maintenance. By having a service agreement with us, our technicians will help keep your gates working smoothly.

Contact Tri State Gate For Your Maintenance Needs

Want to learn more about our service agreements? Interested in having Tri State maintain a gate you already have installed? Contact us today or call 914-244-0018 to find out how we can personalize a service agreement to meet your unique needs.