Thermal printers are complicated machines. Even a small, desk-ready printer is packed with tech and engineering that the majority of people can’t get their head around.
Because of this, if your thermal printer develops a fault, DIY repairs are not recommended. We always recommend turning to the professionals for printer repairs, and if you rely on your thermal printer for your business, a service agreement is a great investment too.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to keep your thermal printer in good working order. One of the simplest things is to keep it nice and clean.
Can you Clean a Thermal Printer?
Absolutely! When your printer is chugging along day after day, some dust, dirt, and small pieces of thermal printer paper can clog up its systems. If you notice that yours isn’t working as well as it should, you can take the outer shell off and give it a quick clean.
Here are some signs that your printer is due a clean:
- The printer is making more noise than usual
- It’s making a rattling or buzzing sound
- It isn’t printing as quickly
- Prints are starting to drop in quality
- There are more frequent jams
If there is a major fault with your machine, cleaning naturally won’t fix it, but it will improve its longevity and do a lot to prevent future issues. Here’s what to do:
How to Clean a Thermal Printer
The process for cleaning a thermal printer is pretty simple. Remove the outer case, exposing the machinery underneath, then you can use a cloth or wipes for the open areas, and a small wire brush or specialist printer cleaning pen for the fiddly bits.
To clean the print head, use specialist cleaning wipes or a lint-free swab with isopropyl alcohol. Using regular cleaning supplies or cloths will damage your print head, so only clean it yourself if you have the proper equipment, and make sure you leave it to dry fully before you put it back together.
One of the benefits of using a thermal printer over an inkjet is that there are no ink cartridges. Over time these cartridges can break or leak, causing a major mess within the system that’s a lot tougher to clean. Thermal printers, on the other hand, only gather dust, dirt, and some debris that’s easy to clear out.
Remember to also clean the cover itself. This is where the most dust will build up, so give it a thorough wipe and leave it to dry.
One of the risks of cleaning your printer is that, to get the job done properly, you do need to take it apart. There’s a chance that you’ll struggle to put it back together again, especially if it’s a more complicated model, so don’t strip it all down unless you have the assembly manual or a guide to follow.
Professional Thermal Printer Cleaning and Maintenance
If you don’t have the time or ability to clean your thermal printer yourself, signing up for a service agreement from Label Line is the best solution for your business.
When it’s time for a service, one of our engineers will head to your base of operations at a scheduled time that suits you. We like to do things properly, so it can mean some downtime for your business if you rely heavily on your thermal printer, we want to minimise that as much as possible by choosing the ideal time.
Our engineer will dismantle your thermal printer, checking every part for wear or faults. Parts such as the print head wear out over time, and need replacing. By checking them before an issue develops, you ensure that your machine continues to work at its best, and an old print head will affect the quality of your prints too.
They’ll also give your machine a thorough clean, using the best cleaning supplies for the job. Like we said, this is crucial for extending its lifespan, and the best time to do it is during a service.
Once your printer has been reassembled and is gleaming from its clean, we’ll help you to arrange new parts. We have a warehouse packed with spare parts for all brands of printer, so it’s almost a certainty that we’ll have what you need, and can fit it for you soon after the service. It’s just one of the many ways we guarantee a fast and efficient service for our clients.
If you’re concerned about the condition of your thermal printer, and it needs a proper clean and service, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.
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