Printers are essential equipment for many offices and businesses, but when things go wrong, they can be difficult to troubleshoot. One of the most common problems people encounter with their printers is paper jams. A crumpled sheet of paper stuck in the mechanism of a printer can cause problems beyond simple inconvenience. However, they are easy to prevent with some basic care and maintenance.
Here are four simple tips to prevent paper jams in your printers.
Use Good Quality Paper
The type of paper you use has a greater effect on your printer than you might think. Sheets of lower-quality paper are more likely to get stuck together, leading to misfeeds or sheets getting caught in the mechanism. Good-quality paper of the correct weight and dimensions will feed easily through the printer and be less likely to jam. You should also store your printer paper in a cool, dry place so it doesn’t get damp and warp.
Clean the Rollers
The rollers that feed paper through the printer can collect dust and ink residue, making them less effective. Clean the rollers with a lint-free cloth and a mild cleaning solution so they can maintain their traction and properly feed the paper. Cleaning the rollers every few months will keep them free of residue and your printer running smoothly.
Don’t Overload the Paper Tray
Although it’s tempting to try to save some time by putting as much paper as you can into the paper tray, doing so will probably jam the printer. If you put more sheets in the paper tray than the manufacturer recommends, the printer can struggle to accommodate the extra sheets. The sheets can slip and crumple, causing a paper jam. This problem is easy to avoid by only putting an appropriate amount of paper in the tray.
Properly Align the Paper Guides
When you pull out the paper tray to reload, you will see guides or tracks that keep the paper lined up and on course. Before you put the paper tray back in, check that the guides are aligned and are not visibly damaged. If you notice any bits of paper left behind from a previous jam, carefully remove them, as they can cause another jam.
