Some common maintenance issues with garage doors include squeaky hinges, broken springs, stripped gears and snow, ice and water covering the photo sensors, which can keep the garage from shutting. Don't wait until your stranded inside or outside of your garage to call in a professional for regular maintenance.

Garage door inspections should include:

• adjusting of springs and cables
• lubricating of moving parts
• tightening of all hardware, track and hinges
• inspecting the safety sensors and opener gears
• troubleshooting any other issues.

One safety measure homeowners can take themselves is to test the reversing feature of their garage door every month. With the door fully open, place a 1 1/2-inch thick piece of wood ( a 2x4 laid flat works well) on the floor in the center of the door. Push the transmitter or wall button to close the door. The door will strike the wood, but then it should reverse and go back to the full open position. If it doesn’t, contact a qualified service provider for repair.

Another DIY task is to regularly test the functionality of your garage by disconnecting the opener by pulling on the release cord or lever. The door should lift up easily in manual mode. If the door seems difficult to lift, there could be a problem with the spring tension and a service professional should be called.