A little maintenance can go a long way. Here are some practical tips to keep your printer going strong, and what to look out for to avoid potential problems.
Paper jams, blotchy ink, error messages…printer problems can mean business problems, especially when you need something printed right now. Fortunately, you can avoid many of these issues with some easy maintenance.
Here’s what to look out for.
1. STAY OUT OF A JAM
Yanking a sheet of paper out of a jammed printer might feel satisfying, but it could lead to future printing issues.
- When you encounter a jam, you should refer to your printer model’s instruction manual. But a general rule of thumb is to slowly pull out the paper with both hands so you don’t cause damage or leave torn bits of paper inside the machine.
- Jams are inevitable, but you can stave them off by not overfilling the printer tray and using paper that’s been stored in a dry place and isn’t wrinkled or torn.
2. CHOOSE THE RIGHT LOCALE
You’re about to place your new printer in that perfectly sized nook…that’s right next to a heating vent? Yeah, don’t.
- Printers don’t do well next to heat sources, so keep them away from vents, radiators, or other machines that produce a lot of heat. And definitely keep it away from a window – direct sunlight will cause problems.
- Keep the feeder tray folded in when it’s not in use so it doesn’t get damaged.
- Give your printer some personal space. If you place it in a high-traffic area, people will bump into it – or put their coffee cup on it and then bump into it. Not good.
3. CLEAN YOUR MACHINE
It’s dirty work, but someone’s gotta do it. Here’s how to get started.
- Safety first. Shut down and unplug your printer and let it cool for at least an hour before you start to avoid burns and accidents.
- Wipe down the exterior regularly with a clean, dry cloth, and occasionally with a wet cloth. Avoid spraying it with ammonia-based cleaners. If your printer resides in a dusty environment, put a plastic cover over it when it’s not in use.
4. USE THE RIGHT INK CARTRIDGES
You wouldn’t fill your car with watered-down gasoline. The same goes for clogging your printer up with a second-rate ink cartridge. Always use HP genuine ink cartridges for the best results.
- Remember to keep ink cartridges sealed in their original packaging until you need them so they don’t dry out.
- Cartridges can handle a relatively wide range of temperatures (around 5 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit). Just like printers, make sure they aren’t stored next heat sources. (Don’t put them out in a blizzard, either.)
- Always turn your printer off using the power button, then wait until the power light goes off before you unplug it. This gives the printer time to move the cartridges into a capped position.
- If you have to remove a cartridge for any reason, put it back in as soon as you can so it doesn’t dry out.
5. MAKE SURE YOUR DRIVER’S UP TO DATE
It’s important to occasionally check and see if your printer is running the latest version of its software.
- HP® provides free print drivers and updates over at 123.hp.com. These can include performance enhancements, bug fixes, and new printer features.