Communication error
At a fairly sizeable, well-known company that I worked for, one of the IT technicians always told us to “wiggle the wires” when a print fault was reported. While this became something of a standing joke, you know what, she was usually right; often the fault was caused by a loose connection or a cable that had inadvertently been pulled out of its socket. Otherwise check network connections and that documents are being sent to the correct print device.
Paper jams
The common one, which could be caused by dirt, worn rollers or the even the wrong or poor quality paper can cause them, so cleaning and regular maintenance (included in service packages) along with better paper will help reduce jams. It’s worth noting that when removing a paper jam, always pull the paper in the direction of the paper path, because pulling it backwards can severely damage the printer.
Faded print
This is normally down to two factors, namely low toner or the wrong print setting being used. A quick squint at the setting being used should remedy the problem and, when it comes to low toner, you really don’t need me to tell you how to fix it!
Ghosting
Where the image prints properly, but a much lighter copy of the image also prints elsewhere is called ghosting and, surprisingly, can be due to a problem with the power supply. Check the power outlet by plugging in a different printer to see if the same results occur. Ghosting can also be caused when consumable printer parts such as the drum or imaging kit are near the end of their life. Prevention is better than cure so a cycle of preventative maintenance from a supplier is always a good idea – and can save downtime at those important moments.
Printing on paper from the wrong tray
Either the print settings on the device or app sending the document to print is set incorrectly or the printer itself has a setting that has gone awry. Look ‘Printer Properties’ on the sending device and ensure the correct tray is selected while on the printer ensure the paper sizes in the control panel match what is actually in the paper trays.
