subject: Managed print services tips – common printer faults [print this page] Managed print services tips common printer faults
Printer problems can cause things to come to a standstill, and this is where managed print services become such a worthwhile investment for offices. It can be hard to know exactly what to do when your printer develops issues, whether it's something small like jammed paper or a major problem such as ghosting knowing what sort of common problems you may encounter will help you determine the best course of action before you call in the MPS.
1. Paper jams
One of most common printer problems is paper jams. Reasons that a printer may jam include the following: dirt build up, wrong paper type or worn down rollers. Managed printer services will assist with cleaning of your printer, or they may advise using the correct paper type. Roller replacement can be done too, depending on the make of printer. Some printer rollers are easily accessible, while others require the rollers to be removed and the printer taken apart. When trying to fix a paper jam on your own, always pull the paper in the direction of the paper path - pulling it backwards can severely damage the printer.
2. Fading printing on the whole page or parts of the page
Faded printing is usually caused by one of the following conditions: The printer is low on toner, the print density is set too low, or greyscale printing is turned on. For the last two conditions, a printer test will show the current settings. If greyscale mode is on, and the print light is very low, try turning it off or setting the print density higher. If the toner is low, remove the toner container and give it a shake. This will redistribute the toner more evenly, giving you a few more prints before you need to replace the cartridge. When in doubt, ask your managed print services company for advice if printing is still faded.
3. Ghosting
Ghosting is a condition that causes an image to print properly, but also create a lighter copy of the image in the background. This could be caused by an issue with the power outlet of the printer - try plugging in a different printer to the plug to see if the problem still occurs. If it does, then you know it's the outlet. This could also be caused when printer parts are worn down. Speak to your managed print services experts to see if your printer parts have reached the end of their lifespan.
4. Smudges and toner spills on the paper
Toner smudges and smeared ink on the page could be caused by a few different problems. The fuser assembly may be damaged or in need of replacing (this is best done by replacing rather than repairing). The toner cartridge could also be defective (this should also be replaced), or toner may be leaking into the printer. Your MPS will be able to assist with all of these possible issues.
5. Printer picks up all the paper from the manual feed tray
If your printer is taking too much paper, then most likely you will need to replace the pad that separates the paper. This can be done quickly and simply by your MPS and once this is fixed, printing will resume as per normal.
Call your managed print services company if you are still experiencing problems, or if you ever need any advice at all on any of these problems.
