Vetted gate and garage technicians in Bellville. Book now.

In Bellville the call-out fee is usually R350 – R650 and labour R450 – R800 per hour, with parts quoted on top. A backup battery is R300 – R600 fitted, a lithium upgrade R1,500 – R3,500, safety beams R1,000 – R1,500 installed and a new sliding gate motor R5,000 – R9,500. Ask for the labour and parts breakdown before you go ahead.

If it is under about eight years old and needs a battery, wheels, gearbox or board, repair is usually the sensible route. Replace it when repairs approach half the cost of a new unit, spares are discontinued or the motor was never big enough for the gate. A fair technician will price both so you can compare.

Winter rain washes leaves and grit into the track and misted or dirty beam lenses trigger false obstructions, so the motor stops and reverses. Water in a perished housing seal can cause erratic behaviour too. Clean the track and beam lenses first, then have a technician check the rack alignment and sensitivity.

A standard lead-acid battery lasts two to three years, less if load shedding is frequent or the charger has failed. Lithium at R1,500 – R3,500 fitted lasts five years or more and handles outages far better. Have the technician test the charging circuit when they replace the battery, or the new one will die just as quickly.