How to maintain a laser printer

Laser printers are a popular choice for many businesses for several good reasons. For one, laser printers typically carry lower printing costs than their inkjet counterparts. Costs aside, laser printers have a number of features that make them fast and efficient for busy offices. You can compare inkjet printers and laser printers here to determine which works for you.

Laser printers will provide many years of reliable service for businesses. However, as they have many moving parts, they do need regular upkeep and maintenance to continue to perform at their best.

Let’s take a look at seven tips on how to maintain a laserjet printer.

1. Use the Printer Utilities feature

Several printer manufacturers provide software commonly referred to as Printer Utilities. It is available for Epson printers, Canon, HP, Brother laser printers and more. This useful software can help detect any issues with your laser printer and help resolve a number of laser printing problems.

It guides you on typical troubleshooting areas such as cleaning the printhead, checking the printhead alignment, and even adjusting the print speed on some models. Use this feature regularly to check in on the status of your laser printer to keep it running smoothly.

2. Clean your laser printer with extra care and safety precautions

To keep your laser printer in tip-top shape, it’s important to clean it regularly. However, when cleaning a laserjet printer, you have to be extra careful as there is a risk of inhaling fine toner particles. It is a good idea to wear a face mask when doing so.

You can use a special toner cloth that acts like a magnet to clean the toner cartridge. The toner particles will stick to this material and avoid the particles getting elsewhere. It can also be used to clean the inside of the laser printer. You can also protect your skin when cleaning your laser printer by wearing latex gloves.

To eliminate the possibility of electric shocks, (toner particles are electrically charged!) make sure to turn off the printer and unplug it from the power source at least one hour before you begin cleaning it.

3. Clean the corona wires (charged wires) on your laser printer

Corona wires are wires that have electrical current running through them. A charged corona wire in a laser printer draws the toner off the drum onto the paper through static electricity. These wires are generally located next to the paper rollers. It must be cleaned when the toner cartridge is replaced.

To clean the corona wire, use a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol to wipe these wires clean. There is no need to apply any pressure. You can also use cotton swabs soaked in rubbing alcohol to wipe the paper feed roller as well as the exterior of your laserjet printer.

Be very careful not to spill the alcohol or any other cleaning solution onto the laser printer’s exterior or interior parts.

4. Maintain the imaging drum on your laser printer

As they are so many working parts on a laser printer, it’s easy to get confused as to what is what. Two important components to be familiar with are the toner and the drum. Both drums and toners are consumables that you need to buy for laser printers from time to time. A drum does not need to be replaced every time you replace the toner so it’s important to know the difference.

In some laser printers, both of these components are in one integrated unit. This is commonly the case with HP laser consumables while others such as Brother laser toners and drums are separate.

So what’s the difference between a toner and a drum?

Toner is the positively charged powder inside the cartridge. It is attracted to and sticks to the negatively charged imaging drum. Through an electrostatic process, a laser beam is passed back and forth over the negatively charged drum. The drum then collects the electrically charged toner and transfers the image to paper, which is then heated and melted onto paper to create the prints.

Some tips for handling an imaging drum

• Since the imaging drum is light-sensitive, be sure not to expose it directly to sunlight.
• Place it in an area with no light while you clean the toner cartridge
• Always grab the drum from the sides, avoid touching the surface
• Do not use a toner cloth on a drum

5. Maintain the laser printer’s fuser

The printer’s laser fuser is another essential component that works in conjunction with a laser toner and drum. Thanks to the heat and the pressure from the fuser, the ink is fused onto the paper and will not smudge as easily. The laser fuser is responsible for the warmth of the page after printing. The printer fuser's heat and many moving parts are why it often is responsible for breakdowns. Dirt or dust inside the fuser can also contribute to laser fuser breakdowns. This can easily be prevented by regularly cleaning off the rollers with a clean dry cloth.

If you do need to replace your laser printer’s fuser, you can order one on our site for a great low price. Simply search by your printer model and all suitable components will be listed below, including laser fusers and laser maintenance kits.

6. Use the correct type of paper in your laser printer

When it comes to printing, we don't tend to think twice about the printer paper we insert. Using the recommended type of paper for laser printers will ensure you get the best quality possible. Not only that but it can extend the life of your printer. You can find paper for laserjet printers here. Simply read the description of each product to confirm it can be used for lasers as well as inkjets.

Using the right paper will ensure that you do not use more toner than necessary. It will also prevent frequent paper jams, which reduces the chance of damage to the components in a laser printer.

7. Keep the laser printer manual in a safe place

We’ve all experienced it, our device malfunctions and we start to search for the manual, only to find it’s been chucked in the bin! It’s important to keep the printer’s manual in a safe space to prevent future malfunctions. The owner’s manual may contain detailed instructions on how to clean and maintain a device. If you’ve lost your copy, you can find one on the manufacturer’s website.

The manual will offer useful advice on how to troubleshoot common laserjet printer issues. They will even detail how to properly open a laserjet printer. While some printers open on a hinge, others have latches. Some may even require the use of screwdrivers. Knowing how to correctly handle the printer will prevent future problems.

Lastly, choose the right toner cartridges and accessories

Finally, make sure you always source replacement toner cartridges from a reputable source. We have a wide range of toner cartridges available from many original printer brands. We also have high-quality 123ink compatible versions of HP toners, Canon, Brother, Samsung toners and many more.

Why choose 123ink's own-branded toners/ drums/ fusers?

• Lower cost-per-print
• High capacity toner cartridges
• Tested in our quality control department
• Lifetime guarantee
• Lowest price guarantee

As you can see there are a few important factors to consider to maintain your laser printer on your own. By implementing these steps, you’ll be sure to get a long life out of your laser printer.
 

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