The printer is one of the frequently used machines in producing urgent documents, meeting notes, and just about everything in between. Haven’t you asked yourself the question, “How can I make my classroom printer last for years?
I myself had issues with my printer previously. It suddenly stopped printing and was making all sorts of blinking signals that I can’t quite pinpoint what the issue was. I ended up calling repair services just to get it back up again.
So now, the question is, how do you make a classroom printer last for years? Sit back and relax as I have put up this list of methods on how you can make your classroom printer last a long time!
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<<Looking for a printer? We’ve reviewed the top 10 best printers for teachers in 2021.
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How Can I Make My Classroom Printer Last For Years? 8 Things To Do To Make Your Printer Last Longer
#1. Proper Location and Ventilation
The printer should be placed in an area with enough space and ventilation. You have to anticipate the space for the feeding tray and the output tray to work well.
It’s best to place your printer somewhere accessible for you to load in papers, move around the printer, and get your printed materials too. You also have to make sure that your printer is placed on a level area as this is an important factor for your printer to be able to function properly.
Ventilation is also something you should consider because printers do tend to overheat especially when you are using them to print a copious amount of printed materials.
#2. Know and Choose the Right Ink
There are printers with the longest-serving printer cartridges. We all know that printer ink is quite expensive, but it is a must for you to get the right type of ink if you want it to last for years.
For Laser Printers, you’ll mainly use Toners which is a powder substance. They are ideal for classrooms because they are cost-effective and fast as well. They are great if you are only printing black and white documents.
Now for Inkjet Printers, there are two types of ink available for use. You have the Dye-based inks and the Pigmented inks.
Dye-based inks are usually water and glycol-based, while Pigmented inks are a specialized type of ink perfect for high-quality and long-lasting prints which are usually used to print photos. Dye-based inks are a lot cheaper compared to Pigmented ink.
While you can look for the best deals online, never settle for suspicious-looking substitute ink as they can do more harm than good for your printer in the long run. Only choose from the original ink intended for your printer or find compatible ones that are certified to be of use with the current printer that you have.
Compatible inks are a great choice if you are looking to save some money when buying ink—they’re usually made from recycled materials which are good for the environment as well as for your pocket.
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#3. Choose The Right Paper
Yes, the type of paper that you are going to use also matters when it comes to helping your printer last longer.
It’s best to use the right kind of paper, and not feed your printer with old and damaged paper. It can get jammed inside your printer’s paper feed and can result in a printer breakdown when you use old and damaged papers. The result is a damaged device.
Using the right kind of paper yields the best print results and will also save you ink and repair bouts as well. You can do some research about what matches your current ink and printer so that your printer will function in its best shape, there are usually recommended types of paper to use in the manual that the printer comes with.
For Laser printers:
Laser printers aren’t really picky when it comes to the type of paper you can use with it, standard office papers can work well and can acquire great prints when used. But it’s best if you can find a laser-optimized paper.
Coated paper is something that you should stay away from if you have a laser printer, as coated papers have the tendency to melt under laser printing which can damage your machine over time.
For Inkjet printers:
Dye-based ink – A matte paper should be your first choice if you have an Inkjet printer that uses a dye-based ink as you’ll get the best result. Aside from matte papers, you can also choose to use glossy and semi-glossy papers which also work perfectly with dye-based inks.
Pigmented Ink – if you are using pigmented ink with your Inkjet printer, it’s best to stay away from glossy papers as they might not be able to absorb the ink quite well compared to matte-coated papers.
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#4. Keep It Clean
As with any type of machine that you are going to use, it is important to keep your printer clean on a regular basis. Keeping and maintaining your printer clean will help it function properly as best as it can.
It’s best to keep your printer away from an area that has dust build-up and other types of fragments or junk that might get into the insides of the computer which can result in jams or worse which is a printer breakdown.
You can clean your printer using a damp cloth on the outer surface, this will lessen the dust build-up that can get into the inside of your printer. For the internal parts, use a dry microfiber cloth or any dry and lint-free cloth so as not to leave anything behind.
Be cautious when cleaning the inside, refrain from using any kind of liquid cleaner to avoid permanent damage. If you happen to have a small vacuum, use it. A soft-bristled brush can help you gently remove all the dust and fragments that can get into the printer.
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#5. Do Not Overwork And Overload Your Printer
Another mistake most people do is overfeeding their printer with papers resulting in paper jams. It’s also best not to let any paper sit on the paper feed for too long as this can invite dust and other types of debris into the inside premises.
Keep all the trays and feeders closed whenever it is not in use, this is to preserve the cleanliness of the printer as well. Also, keep in mind that even though printers are machines they also need some breaks in between printing to prevent overheat. This happens when printing large volumes of documents continuously.
Don’t forget to clear up printing queues that may cause your printer to produce unnecessary copies that you no longer need. This will save your printer from working and using energy and ink too.
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#6. Keep The Ink Nozzles Moist
If you are using an Inkjet Printer, it’s best if you can print on a regular basis to keep the nozzles from drying out. Clogged nozzles are sure to give you a headache at one point in time whether you have a brand new printer or an old one.
You are not necessarily required to print daily, just try to print out test pages every one or two weeks to help keep the nozzles moist and for it to prevent any clogs from occurring.
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#7. Skip The DIY Fix
Whenever your printer is encountering any issues that seem to stay unresolved even after all the troubleshooting work that you’ve done. Try to stay away from watching YouTube Videos of how you can repair it all by yourself, this can do more harm than good for your printer and your pocket as well.
Don’t think twice about reaching out to professionals, as they are equipped with in-depth knowledge and will know how to immediately isolate the problem of your printer and will then resolve it as well.
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#8. Prevention Is Better Than Cure
As we all know how true the saying “Prevention is better than cure” goes and applies to everything and anything, it’s ideal for you to schedule a preventive maintenance procedure to ensure that your printer is running well.
This is going to aid in avoiding future issues as well as help keep your printer running much longer. It’s just like going to the doctor and having a check-up appointment for you to know the current running condition of your printer.
This will save you time and effort from having to repair your printer when future occasional errors unexpectedly come up.
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Conclusion
Paper jams, misaligned prints, smudges, and other random issues are inevitable in printers old and new. But taking care of your printer by following the above methods will let you enjoy your printer for a longer time.
As with any type of machine that we use, it’s always smart to maintain it as much as possible. Not only you can reduce the chances of breaking down your printer but you’re also saving your money from repairs or buying a new one.
Care to share any tips or suggestions as to how you can make your printer in your classroom last?
Please leave a comment down below as I would love to read them and try them out too!
Toodles for now!
