Ink jet printers require regular maintenance and repair to keep them printing smoothly. An ink jet printer that has not been regularly maintained will use more ink and paper over time, which is costly. Ink streaks, paper jams and fading can occur when the printer has not been properly maintained.
Maintenance
A monthly maintenance routine can keep an ink jet printer working better for a longer period of time. Maintenance starts with the paper and ink. Always buy the best quality available. It's an up-front expense that will even itself out in the long run.
Cleaning the ink jet printer is an important part of maintenance. Clean the printer with a can of compressed air and a soft rag.
Use a surge protector to plug the printer into the wall. Surges can cause the ink jet printer to color shift.
Ink heads should be checked for clogs. This occurs when the ink cartridge sits for a long period of time or is exposed to air. Ink clogs can be prevented by putting in the new ink immediately after opening the package. Check the ink heads by printing a color picture and look for streaks or white spots. If an ink clog is spotted, clean the ink head.
Prevent the ink jet printer from printing crooked by aligning it through the control panel.
Repair
Even with proper maintenance, an ink jet printer could run into some problems. If the printer shows a low-ink warning but the ink cartridge is new, try jiggling the cartridge. It may not have been pushed in all the way. Another cause for this might be that the ink cartridge has dried out from sitting too long. Replace the ink if this is the case.
Printing too close to the edge of the paper can happen when the roller can't grip the paper to keep it straight. This can be fixed by setting the print area in the printer's control panel. Make sure to choose the maximum setting.
Faded pictures occur when a low quality ink is used. Print a full-size color picture once a month and compare them to determine whether fading has occurred. Always use the best ink available. If fading still occurs, check the computer's photo color settings. If the settings are off, the computer will print different colors than those shown on the screen.
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