Gate Intercom Problems

A gate intercom that's stopped working is a real nuisance – visitors can't get hold of you, and you can't let them in. Here's what normally goes wrong and what you can check.

No power to the intercom

Nothing at all on the screen or handset, and the gate panel is dead.

• Check the intercom's power supply is plugged in and switched on (often a plug-in adaptor near the indoor unit).
• Check the fuse board for anything tripped.
• After a power cut or storm, the power supply unit can fail.

Common Electric Gate Intercom Faults

Gate intercoms let you see or speak to visitors and open the gate without going outside. When they go wrong, it's usually one of a handful of things: no power to the panel, a broken handset, damaged cabling, water in the outdoor unit or a lost connection to the gate's control board.

Wireless and GSM intercoms have their own issues, such as weak signal or an expired SIM.

Working out which part has failed is the key to fixing it quickly.

Intercom Repairs for Automatic Gates in Cumbria

We test the panel, the wiring, the handset and the link to the gate in turn, then repair or replace only what's needed. Outdoor panels take a lot of weather here, so we make sure they're sealed properly afterwards.

If your intercom is old and parts are hard to find, we can talk you through modern options, including GSM intercoms that ring your phone.

Once it's working, we check that the intercom opens the gate properly and the safety devices still work as they should.

No picture, or a poor picture

• dirty or misted camera lens on the gate panel – wipe it gently
• water inside the panel – condensation behind the glass
• night-time picture failing – the infrared lights may have failed
• the picture rolls or flickers – often a cable or connection issue

No sound, or poor sound

• speaker or microphone damaged by water or insects
• buzzing or humming on the line – often interference or a cable fault
• one-way sound – a fault in either the indoor or outdoor unit

The gate won't open from the intercom

• the intercom's "open" output isn't reaching the gate's control board
• the gate itself has a fault – try the remote
• the relay that triggers the gate has failed

App or smartphone intercom problems

• check your Wi-Fi is working at the gate – a new router can mean the intercom needs reconnecting
• update the app
• for GSM intercoms, check the SIM still has credit and a signal

Repair or upgrade?

Older audio intercoms and early video systems can be hard to repair, and parts dry up. Often an upgrade to a modern video or smartphone intercom costs less than you'd think, especially if the old cables can be reused. See intercoms for electric gates.

Call or WhatsApp Adrian on 07854 037752 – a photo of your gate panel and indoor unit helps.

Questions people ask me