You might be looking at your printer and thinking, this just isn't working for me anymore. Or you may be looking at a printer you just bought and thinking, how do I take care of this printer so that I get the most bang for my buck? Whether you're about to buy a printer or you've just bought a printer, you want it to stand the test of time.

Many times, a printer's lifespan is short because of a lack of preventative measures taken to ensure its long life. That's why we've compiled 11 maintenance tips to make your printer last. Don't know how long your printer should last, where you should get your new printer or whether you actually need a new printer? We're going to discuss these topics as well!

The Average Lifespans of Printers

If you're wondering how long an extended lifespan is for printers, it's about 2-3 years. However, your printer's lifespan will depend on how frequently you use it and whether you have a type of printer that is suited for how frequently you use it. For example, you want a laser printer instead of an inkjet printer if you're going to use it frequently in an office because laser printers are more durable, and they can handle more prints.

Even the environment where you place your printer can affect your printer's lifespan. For example, if you set up your printer in a hot, humid area with a lot of foot traffic, it will likely not last as long as a printer that is set up in a cool, dry and slow environment.

After these 2-3 years, if your printer isn't performing at all or isn't performing nearly as well as it used to, it may be time to buy a new printer, as getting your old printer fixed might cost you more money than buying a new one. Plus, technology is always evolving, so it might be beneficial for you to invest in a new, modern printer if your old printer isn't up to snuff anymore. That way, you can enjoy any new amenities that may have debuted.

You can extend the lifespan of a printer by taking proper care of the printer and keeping up with its maintenance needs. Taking care of your printer may look as simple as pressing a few buttons and being careful with it, but it may also look like keeping an eye on specific parts of your printer and buying maintenance kits. Let's take a more in-depth look at 11 ways you can take care of your printer so it's with you longer.

11 Tips to Expand The Lifespan of Your Printer

It's important to get your money's worth when it comes to using a new product, which is why we want to help you take care of your printer so you can use it for as long as possible. The following is a list of 11 tips that can potentially extend the lifespan of printers and that you can use as a personal printer maintenance checklist.

1. Clean the printer heads: Clogged printer heads can lead to documents that are streaked or missing text. Check your printer's instruction manual for how to access and clean your printer's head. Some printers may be able to clean their printer heads themselves after you do the honors of clicking a few buttons. Hiring a professional to clean your printer heads is also always an option.
2. Prevent ink nozzles from drying up: Make sure you dust your printer often, as a buildup of dust can be the culprit of clogged and then dried-up ink nozzles. Also, if you don't use your printer often enough, the ink that is already in your nozzles will dry up and lead to clogged printer heads later on. Again, if your printer heads are clogged, this can lead to documents that are streaked or missing text.
3. Turn the printer off when not in use: It's important to turn your printer off when you're not using it because it prolongs the life of its components. The prolonged life of your printer's components means that you'll likely have to pay for less printer maintenance over time. Your printer will also be safe from power surges if you unplug it when you're not using it. This will save you from walking away from your printer only to come back and discover that your printer isn't working as well as it used to or it won't work at all.
4. Be careful with the printer: Being careful when handling your printer will prevent any structural damage to it. So, if you're moving your printer a short distance, handle it with care. Make sure you are able to lift the printer on your own. If not, get some help. Make sure you walk slowly and carefully when transporting your printer. If you're moving your printer a longer distance, consider wrapping it up to protect its structural integrity.
5. Buy a printer maintenance kit: Maintenance kits come in handy when you need cleaning supplies or replaceable parts for your printer. Be sure that the kit you purchase and use has cleaning supplies and replaceable parts that are appropriate for your particular type of printer. You can always contact the manufacturer of your printer to see exactly what maintenance kit would fit best for the needs of your printer.
6. Use the printer more: If you don't use your printer enough, you run the risk of its ink cartridge drying up, unless you use a laser printer, which uses powder instead of liquid ink. If your ink cartridge dries up, you'll ultimately have to replace it.
7. Use the latest software and drivers: If you keep up with installing the latest drivers for your printer, you can benefit from any updates that the manufacturer of your printer may have made. You can find information about the latest drivers for your printer on your manufacturer's website.
8. Be cautious when changing/replacing cartridges: When you replace your printer's cartridges too quickly or roughly, you run the risk of damaging the cartridges or touching the bottom of the cartridges, which can ruin any future prints. Make sure you read your printer's instruction manual before you attempt to replace the cartridges for your printer. Even if you're in a rush, it's important to replace your cartridge with care after you have a detailed understanding of how to replace it.
9. Maintain a good humidity level: You want to place your printer in an environment that has a low humidity level. You also want to avoid leaving your printer in an environment that is overly hot, as this could overheat its internal workings.
10. Print blank pages from time to time: Printing a blank page every so often between the times when you actually use your printer can help clear out any dust, lint or toner that may have been collected within your printer.
11. Check paper pickup rollers for dust: A buildup of dust can cause your paper pickup rollers to malfunction. You can clean the dust from various parts of your printers with a small hand vacuum. Avoid cleaning your paper pickup rollers with an electronics duster. Dusters have the capacity to spread dust deeper into your printer.

When You Should Buy a New Printer

Even if the manufacturer has given you an average lifespan for your new printer, it can be useful to know what signs to look for that indicate you need to buy a new printer, especially if your printer isn't working the same way it used to.

• The printer doesn't meet/suit your needs anymore: If you need a printer for your office, it may not be the best idea to bring your inkjet printer to the office, as it may not hold up to more use and more printing of text-heavy documents. It would be best in this situation to purchase a new laser printer that can handle more use and more printing of text-heavy documents.
• The printer isn't performing properly: If you're struggling to print any pages that aren't blank or discolored, it's time to get a new printer.
• Constant paper jams: Paper jams happen from time to time, but if you find yourself not being able to troubleshoot your constant paper jams, it's probably time to shop around for a new printer.
• The technology is outdated: A lot of manufacturing companies update their printers with newer models over time. If you want to benefit from updated features, such as mobile print and cloud compatibility, for your printer, then you'll have to buy a newer model. Also, consider whether you need your printer to have better security measures. Newer models of printers are often more protected against cyberattacks.
• Constant clicking/grinding sounds: Constant clicking or grinding sounds are an indication that your printer's internal parts are worn. The cost of getting the internal parts of your printer replaced or fixed and the time you'll lose waiting to bring your printer back home is something to consider when you think your printer's internal parts are worn. It may be in your best interest to spend your time and money finding and purchasing a new printer.
• The print quality is poor: If you've replaced your printer's cartridges and have run the cleaning function on your printer but the print quality of it is still poor, you will likely need to get yourself a new printer.
• The print speed is too slow: Sometimes printers print slowly for valid reasons, such as the printing of text-heavy documents. However, if you print in draft mode and your document is still printed slowly, you'll likely need a new printer to get things back up to speed.

Benefits of Different Printers

If you're looking for a new printer, we want you to find a printer that fits your unique needs, which is why we've compiled the following list of benefits for different inkjet printers, laser printers, color printers and monochrome printers:

Inkjet

• Don't require drum kits
• Typically more affordable than laser printers
• Can print photos
• Often small, which lends itself to portability
• Good for at-home use

Laser

• Use drum kits, which you don't need to replace as often as ink cartridges

Faster print speeds

• Lower costs per page
• Good for office use

Color Printers:

If you're planning on printing documents with color at any point, you'll need a color printer. Fortunately, you can get an inkjet printer or a laser printer that has color options. If you want a color printer for at-home use, then an inkjet printer may be better for you than a laser printer.

Monochrome Printers:

If you don't have a lot of printing to do and you don't need to print any documents with color, monochrome printers are typically more affordable than color printers.

Choosing Supplies Outlet

Are you wondering where you should buy a new printer? Supplies Outlet offers various products if you're looking for a new printer or if you need supplies for the printer you already bought, including a wide variety of printers and printer accessories. For example, we sell the following printer brands:

• Brother
• inkjet
• OEM
• Canon
• Dell
• Epson
• HP
• Samsung
• Lexmark
• More Brands

Just in case you need to refill your printer's toner or ink, we can supply you with toner-refilled, ink-refilled and ink-refilling machines. We don't just sell printers and printer accessories though! We also sell different paper products that you can use for arts and crafts as well as cash handling, and we keep the following office supplies in stock for you.

• Accounting
• Appointment Books
• Arts and Crafts
• Batteries
• Binder
• Bulletin Board
• Calendar
• Cash Handling
• Chalkboards
• Clocks
• Correction Fluid
• Correction Pen
• Correction Tape
• Crayons
• Display Board
• Dividers
• Dry Erase
• Event Management
• Folders
• Hardware
• Index Cards
• Markers
• Name Badges
• Organization
• Painting Supplies
• Paper Clips
• Pencils
• Pens
• Planner
• School Supplies

Contact Supplies Outlet Today

If you're shopping around for a new printer or printer supplies, Supplies Outlet is the best place to go if you like to shop with a variety of choices at your fingertips. We've even created other articles to instruct you on everything printer- and printer-supply-related. Check out our featured articles here.

Learn more about us here, and if you decide to work with us, you can reach us at 1-877-822-8659 or you can fill out a contact form here.