Most people have a love-hate relationship with printers. The simple truth is, if you work in an office setting a quality printer can be much more than a luxury; it is a necessity. However, even good printers can have bad days. And a bad printer day can sometimes turn into a nightmare.
Paper jams are frustrating but they are usually a quick and easy fix. In fact, many printers guide you through the process of removing a paper jam. With that being said there are some other printer problems and aggravations that are not always so easy to remedy.
Top Three Printer Complaints
Below you will find a list of the top three printer complaints and possible solutions. These are not listed in any special order and you should know that some printers may provide reliable service day in and day out. However, having this information on-hand when it is needed may help you keep your sanity!
Just a side note; in general, it is always wise to purchase name brand printers, such as those from Epson, Brother, HP, and Dell.
Printer Complaint – Light or Blurry Prints
Solution: In most cases, prints that are too light, blurry, or spotty are due to a malfunctioning print head. This happens most often in printers that are not used frequently. Dried ink clogs the head and causes problems. The good news is, printers have software programs that can be activated to solve this problem. On-screen prompts will guide you through the process of cleaning the head and printing a test page.
Printer Complaint – Slow Printing
Solutions: Slow printing can be speeded up in various ways. Wireless connections should be placed as close as possible to your router. To ensure fast printing a direct connection with an Ethernet cable to router is recommended.
Another way to speed up printing is to shrink text. You can print two pages on one sheet of paper. This approach results in fewer pages to print and it saves on the use of paper. In other words, you will save time and money.
One other way to make the printing process faster is to choose a reduced print quality. This is especially a good idea for everyday printing tasks. In addition, the elimination of any graphics will also speed up the printing process.
Printer Complaint – Expense of Ink & Toner Replacements
Solution: Anyone that deals with printers knows that ink cartridges can be a monetary concern. Although you may easily find quality printers at affordable prices, replacing the ink/toner can be very expensive. This cost may tempt you to try refilled or remanufactured cartridges. However, this is not a recommended solution.
These usually result in poor quality prints. Instead, it is better to purchase high-capacity cartridges from major vendors, like an HP ink toner, but look for a page yield of 2,000 plus pages. Not only will the toner provide extended service, you will also enjoy top quality prints. Also using the suggested method of speeding up your printing will provide added savings.
Don’t panic the next time your printer has a bad day. Just take a deep breath and be grateful you know about these solutions. You can then remedy the problem and love your printer again!
One response to “You Vs. Your Printer: The Battle Continues”
I had a Brother multifunction machine that was excellent except for clearing a paper jam. The process to fix it was easy but opening the door to remove the jammed paper. I had to put my thumb and forefinger on either side of “door” and pull straight out. Only the tips of my fingers fit on the “handles” and my fingers were as wide as they could go to hold the “handles”. Pulling straight out was extremely difficult. Sometimes it would take more than a dozen tries. I was happy when it developed a problem with the red ink port. I printed only in black to try to use up most of the ink.
I just finished setting up a new printer. It is also a Brother but it has an easy to open door to the jammed paper and it will print on both sides. Trying to print double-sided on the other printer often led to jammed paper. The only aspect I don’t like is that the top is a glossy black that is a dust catcher. So I will make a fabric cover and live happily ever after. 🙂