Having a printer that breaks down often or doesn’t print properly can be one of the most frustrating aspects of owning a computer, which is why following these tips to maintain your printer will help you to avoid such issues from arising so often, and will also add to the lifespan of your printer.

Much like any other piece of equipment, the printer has some moving parts which can be quite sensitive to changes, and trying to make sure that things don’t get too clogged will be at the heart of the top tips to maintain your printer.

Cleaning The Printer

Depending on how often the printer is used, then this will have an effect on how often it needs to be cleaned.  If it is being intensively used, then fortnightly can be necessary, although every month or so for regular use is reasonable, or even less frequently if the printer is rarely used.  If this is the case, maybe putting a dust sheet might be a good idea.

On most printers, there will always be a button or catch that can be used to gain access to the working of the printer. And the first step is to always try to remove any visible clumps of dirt or dust. Cleaning the rollers and ensuring that the path of the paper through the printer is clear is also a good idea.

Using The Right Ink

One of the important tips to maintain your printer is to make sure that the ink being used is of good quality, whether it is a replacement cartridge or a refill, because cheaper inks tend to dry into clots which can block the ink from getting to the printer.

Checking the connection between the ink cartridge and the printer and removing any clogs or clumps is also a very good idea.

By making sure the printer is properly maintained and that it does get cleaned and maintained fairly regularly, then this will significantly reduce the need for call outs for printer technicians during the lifetime of the printer, and can save money in the meantime too.

Author is member of working team for Barrister.com. Barrister Global Services is a premier provider of printer repair, computer repair http://www.barrister.com and all other IT services.