There’s no denying how handy it is to have a printer at home. Not having to make a trip to an office supply store, ask a friend or print at the office is well worth the money.
But like any piece of equipment, printers don’t just last forever. They require regular maintenance to keep them running optimally. Luckily, you can do a few things to extend your printer’s lifespan.
We put together three easy steps you should do today if you never have or if it’s been a long time. Follow these steps, and you should be able to keep your printer running as long as possible. (Own a printer from our sponsor Epson? We’ve got you covered, too.)
Check the nozzle
This might sound complicated, but it’s incredibly simple. You can run a nozzle check right from your computer. Head to your printer software utility and perform a nozzle check. (Tap or click here for more details if you have an Epson model.)
Your printer will produce a test page. If the test page has solid print lines, your nozzle is clean and you have nothing to worry about. If the print lines are broken, your print head needs cleaning.
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Instructions for checking it on your computer vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, so check your manufacturer’s website for specific instructions. Print something off at least once a month to keep things running smoothly.
Clean your print heads
If your nozzle check comes back poorly, you can clean your print heads to extend your printer’s life. This will also make your finished product look better.
Cleaning your print heads is ultimately up to the results of your nozzle check. That means the timeline for how often you should clean it varies. You can also use your printer software utility to run automated print head cleaning.
Instructions will vary from printer to printer, so check with your manufacturer for specific instructions.
Dust all the nooks and crannies
Just as dust will cover your countertops, it will also collect inside your printer. If you let it build up over months or even years, that dust can accumulate and cause your printer tons of issues.
Regular dusting inside your printer will keep dust, dirt and miscellaneous schmutz from building up on the inside. This means it will run more smoothly — and it will last longer. You don’t want to be too rough with the interior, though, so clean with a soft brush or cloth. Use a Q-tip for those hard-to-reach spots.
Bonus tip: Make sure your software and drivers are up to date
Every device we own requires regular updates, as much as it’s a pain to keep up with. These updates are important, as they keep our machines running smoothly and keep hackers and other unsavory things out of your life.
The same goes for your printer. Regularly check your manufacturer’s website for software updates for your printer. This will keep intruders from using vulnerabilities in your printer to steal your information.
Epson specific tips
If you own an Epson printer, like the EcoTank, these instructions are specific to your printer from the manufacturer. The EcoTank is Kim’s printer pick. Instead of wasting money on expensive ink cartridges, fill up the EcoTank and print thousands and thousands of pages. Check out Epson EcoTank printers at a Best Buy, OfficeMax or Office Depot near you, or shop online at Epson.com/EcoTankKim.
You can check your nozzles two ways. You can either use the product control panel or the computer utility method.
Like with a nozzle check, you can perform print head cleaning in two ways: the product control panel or the computer utility.
If you don’t see any improvement after cleaning the print head up to three times, turn the product off and wait at least 12 hours.
Then, check the print head nozzles. If necessary, try cleaning the print head again. If you still don’t see an improvement, contact Epson.
If you don’t see any improvement after cleaning the print head up to three times, turn off the product and wait at least 12 hours. Then check the print head nozzles and try cleaning the print head again, if necessary. If quality still does not improve, contact Epson.
There’s nothing worse than replacing a gadget before its time. Follow these steps and they’ll keep your documents looking sharp!
Having your own personal printer is so convenient
You can print online receipts, homework, documents and more all from your home office. The only downside is those costly ink cartridges. Luckily, you can kiss that problem goodbye with an Epson EcoTank printer.
These powerful printers come with a ridiculous amount of ink right in the box. Specifically, you’ll get enough ink to print a whopping 6,000 color pages. Check out Epson EcoTank printers at a Best Buy, OfficeMax or Office Depot near you, or shop online at Epson.com/EcoTankKim.
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