Adding an Inground Swimming Pool to Your Home

Posted on: 3 June 2016

Having a high-quality gate and the right opener go hand-in-hand. If you don't choose the right opener, you will have limited functionality and an increased chance of maintenance issues. If you're planning to install a new sliding gate system for your business, make sure you know what factors you need to consider when choosing an opener.

Operation

The frequency at which you need to operate the sliding gate system is very important. As a general rule of thumb, the more frequently a gate needs to open, the greater amount of horsepower power necessary. If you choose an option with limited power and you need to use it often, the risk of overuse and increased wear and tear is higher.

To put this in perspective, a sliding gate that is being installed around an employee parking lot for a business that operates twenty-four hours a day will likely have greater horsepower needs than a business lot that only operates eight hours a day.

Gate Weight

The weight of your gate is also important when choosing an opener. All gate openers have weight capacity restrictions. If you try to use an opener with a gate that exceeds this recommended range, not only will you sustain damage to the opener system, but the gate could detach and sustain permanent damage – leading to expensive repair costs.

Make sure you are taking into account the weight of the gate. As a general rule of thumb, if you have a heavy gate, such as a metal option, you always want to choose a heavy-duty option.

Length

Another factor to consider is the length of the gate. Sliding gates generally come in two styles. First, you have a single sliding gate. This gate style is designed as one long gate that slides in a single direction to open or close. Next, you have a dual sliding gate. With this option, you have two shorter gates that open in opposite directions.

The length of the gate is important because it determines how long the opener's chain system needs to be, the mechanism that helps keep the gate in place as it moves. A single sliding gate requires a longer chain system than a system that has dual sliding gates.

In addition to these tips, don't hesitate to rely on the expertise of an installation expert. An installation expert can take into account your gate and your functionality needs to help you find the opener system best suited to meet your needs. Contact a business that sells liftmaster driveway sliding gate openers for more information.