Tip #4101 - Increase Your Printer's Lifespan
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Increase
Your Printer's Lifespan
Did you know that
color printers have a lifespan that’s perfectly acceptable for both
personal and professional use at the price they come, even while laser
printers generally last a bit longer? Basically, you end up replacing
inkjet printers every three to four years, but laser printers generally
last a few years longer. Some users have reported a handful of personal
grade laser printers that have been churning out pages for a full decade.
Wow! But no matter what kind of printer you use, here are a few tips that
will help you maintain your printer in tip top shape for as long as possible!
Tip 1: Go
Easy on a Paper Jam
In case of a paper
jam, never force the paper out. This can not only damage the printer,
but also leave bits of torn paper inside, which could cause harm later
on. To get the paper out smoothly, most printers have a hatch attached
at the back that can be easily removed. Once this hatch is removed, you
will gain access to the paper wheels and you should be able to see the
jammed paper to get it out.
Tip 2: Avoid
Shutting Down the Printer in an Improper Manner
Turn off your printer
when not in use. This can prevent drying of ink and it also helps to keep
the printer functioning at an optimum level. Remember to use the printer’s
power button and then remove the plug if need be. Don’t turn the
power off if you are in the middle of something.
Tip 3: Avoid
Cheap Toner/Ink Cartridges
Often times, we are
tempted to use either compatible, refilled or remanufactured ink/toner
cartridges, which is something we all should avoid. That is like buying
a compatible spare part for a car instead of buying the original parts.
It may somewhat perform the same function as the original, but it would
not last as long and it could affect the performance of the vehicle itself.
In addition, we need to look at how such companies manufacture their products.
In the case of remanufacturing cartridges, what actually happens is this:
the manufacturer would first purchase empty toner cartridges from end
users. They would then strip the toner cartridge to its bare minimum and
they would then reassemble them after a little bit of cleaning. The area
of specific concern here is the toner drum. There is a set lifespan for
this item and no amount of cleaning would extend it.
Avoid using cheap toner cartridges and use ones like the one in the screenshot
above.
And finally, the lifespan
of a printer depends on the sturdiness of the machine, how much you use
it and how well you maintain it. Printers will eventually fail, but some
will last nearly forever. Take good care of your printer and it will take
care of you, for a much longer time. And one more thing: to ensure your
printer has a long lifespan, you should not base your purchase solely
on its speed or its price. The monthly duty cycle indicates the maximum
number of pages the printer is designed to produce. Buying a printer that
has a duty cycle that is two to three times your expected print volume
will help ensure its longevity as well.
Sidebar: Lifespan
of Cartridges
The lifespan of an
ink cartridge varies, depending on how often and how much you print. Light
users might replace their ink two or three times a year, while heavier
users may go through cartridges every few months (cartridges left sitting
for a year or more may dry out as well). If you want a more concrete answer
on how many pages you’ll get out of a cartridge, consult the manufacturer
for the rating on a specific model printer and cartridge. A typical answer
will be something along the lines of 350 pages at a five percent coverage.
That means a cartridge can print 350 pages with an average of a five percent
surface area inked on each page.
The lifespan of a
toner cartridge varies greatly, depending on the type of laser printer
you have. Cheaper toner cartridges cost under $100 and output 2,500 to
5,000 pages. More expensive toner cartridges are meant for printers that
do a lot of printing (a very common reason to have a laser printer in
the first place) and will yield tens of thousands of pages. Some of the
most expensive, heavy duty cartridges will even yield hundreds of thousands
of pages. It just depends on what you buy!
Happy printing!
~ Zahid H. Javali
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