3 Large Format Printer Maintenance Tips to Avoid Needing Repairs

Maintaining your large format printer is crucial to ensure it runs efficiently and to avoid costly repairs. 

To ensure your large format printer operates at its best and to reduce the likelihood of disruptions in your workflow, most businesses we work with find that scheduling one annual preventative maintenance check-up is sufficient. This is typically even when using the printer at high volumes. 

In this blog, we’ll review 3 essential maintenance tips that your team should likely do to keep your large format printer in top condition and minimize the need for service calls.

3 Maintenance Tips to Avoid Large Format Printer Repairs

1. Run Your Printer Every 2-4 Weeks Minimum

Regular printer use is essential, especially for inkjet models, to prevent the ink from drying out. 

Why? If a printer remains idle for too long, the ink can harden, resembling a crayon-like consistency that clogs the lines and print heads, leading to significant issues. 

Many businesses had this issue during COVID because they were not in the office. As a result, their print heads needed to be replaced. Which cost businesses anywhere from $80 to $500, not including the service call fee of $200 to $400.

We recommend you run your printer at least once every week or month, depending on your printing needs.

 

PRO TIP: Most printers have a “demo print” on file that you can select. This print only uses 5%-10% coverage but has just sufficient enough that your lines clean out. 

Can’t find your demo print? Give us a call at 800-491-8785 to have a printing expert help you locate the demo print sample on your large format printer. 

2. Monitoring Ink Expiration Dates

Monitoring ink expiration is also vital for maintaining print quality and preventing damage to your printer. 

Ink typically has a shelf life of 12 to 18 months, and most printers will alert you when the ink is nearing or has passed its expiration date. 

Although you might be tempted to use expired ink for a few weeks or even months, doing so can risk compromising print quality and potentially harming your printer. 

It’s common practice to purchase four sets of inks at once and reorder when supplies start to run low, ensuring you always have fresh ink on hand.

PRO TIP: To keep track of the expiration dates of your ink, plug it into your printer. The bar code will be scanned and then remind you when your ink is about to expire.

3. Keep Your Printer Loading Area Clean

Lastly, maintaining printer cleanliness is essential for all types of printers. 

For toner-based printers, it’s important to clean up residual powder regularly. Inkjet printers, while generally less messy, still benefit from regular cleaning to prevent operational issues. 

How to Get Long-term Use out of Your Large Format Printer 

In addition to the maintenance tips mentioned above, we always recommend our customers schedule annual preventative maintenance. 

During this time, a professional large-format printing expert will flush the lines fully and run tests on the machine to ensure every feature is functioning correctly. This maintenance is separate from software updates and requires an in-person visit.

Explore Our Affordable Service Contracts

Consider signing up for a service contract with Steven Enterprises to keep your large-format printer operating smoothly and reduce the likelihood of disruptions in your workflow. 

Our contracts typically include one maintenance check per year and are often more cost-effective than paying for one-time services. They can be paid monthly or annually, and every client is assigned an inside representative who assists with all supply needs. 

For those with higher print demands, ask about our Cost Per Copy (CPC) contract to get even better rates on your supplies. 

Contact us today to learn more about our maintenance service options.