Seven Tips for Printer Maintenance

Consider how often you and your employees use your business printer. When your printer is in great working condition, it is easy to take it for granted. However, if it is "misbehaving" and causing you frustration with paper jams, unclear copies, and other difficulties, you will realise how much you rely on it every day. Fortunately, regular printer maintenance can assist in guaranteeing that your printer performs well when you need it the most—which is almost always true. 


Factors That Influence Printer Maintenance 


If you fail to clean and maintain your printer regularly, you risk causing not only poor performance but also component damage.

Three key elements influence how frequently you should clean and maintain your printer. 


  • Environment - Where you put your printer is important! It will require less maintenance if you keep it in a clean environment with less dirt and dust collection. 

  • Level of usage - How many prints or copies you generate has an impact on your device. The more paper you use, the more dust your printer accumulates in its components. In addition, feed rollers and other sections of a printer with high activity will wear out faster than printers with low to moderate utilisation. 

  • Paper quality - High-quality paper may be more expensive initially, but it can save you money in the long term. Good paper has a consistent cut and size, which helps to avoid paper jams. Furthermore, higher-quality paper produces less dust than lesser stock, reducing buildup within your copier. 


Printer Maintenance Tips: 


  1. Use your printer more often: If you do not use your printer regularly, the ink cartridge may dry out, causing a variety of problems for your company or home office. If you do not need to print regularly, consider utilising a laser printer. Laser printers employ heat to fuse the powder to paper, therefore the powder in the cartridge cannot dry up. 


  1. Prevent printer breakdowns and clean the printhead: High-quality printing is a crucial component of every successful business, which is why maintaining printer performance is critical. Any equipment, regardless of type, can break down if not properly maintained, especially when utilising an inkjet printer. 


  1. Replace your cartridges with caution: It occurs when you are in a rush to print a document and need to replace your cartridges, so you just shove them into your printer! When replacing cartridges, proceed with caution. Do not touch the cartridge's bottom, since this may degrade the quality of your prints. If your printer is new to you, carefully read the instructions before replacing the cartridges, and keep the instruction booklet secure. 


  1. Keep your printer clean and dust-free: Dust off your printer now and again. Dust and debris may readily enter the smallest elements of your printer. Dust off your printer with a clean, soft cloth or a light alcohol cleaning solution. If you do not use your printer frequently, try covering it with a dust net to prevent dust and debris from entering it.


  1. Use the most recent software and drivers: Updating to the newest software and drivers is more crucial than you would realise. Keep your system up to date by installing the most recent manufacturer drivers. This will help you keep your printer in good operating order. Not sure where to locate the most recent drivers? Have a peek at the manufacturer's website. 


  1. Keep the glass clean: Under the document feeder on multi-function printers, there are often two pieces of glass (one big one long and one slim). Cleaning the glass regularly reduces the possibility of lines or spots appearing on your copies and scans. We recommend using a quality glass cleaner and a paper towel. After cleaning, ensure that the glass is dry before using the machine.


  1. Inspect the paper tray for debris and other pollutants: Our experts have been called to the rescue several times due to printer troubles caused by extraneous items being dragged into the paper feed. This happens when dirt and particles get into the paper tray when feeding paper into the printer. Avoid unnecessary emergency service calls by inspecting the tray after loading paper—or even before each usage for added peace of mind.


Conclusion

Regular maintenance of printers can ensure smooth processing and also keep it working for years. From Just Repair, you can get all kinds of repairs and maintenance for your branded printers. Contact us today to know more!