How should I store an Epson inkjet printer if it will sit unused for about six months?
Asked 7/15/2016
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2 answers
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I need to leave an Epson SC-P800 unused for roughly half a year while I travel. I’ve heard that inkjet printers can clog if they aren’t used regularly, potentially damaging the print head. Is it better to have someone print a page periodically, or can I shut the printer down and store it safely? What conditions help reduce the risk of clogging, and how likely is it that the printer will still be usable after six months?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
2 Answers
5
It sounds like keeping this printer alive is a burden that you don't even want to put on the shoulders of somebody else. Instead, use the situation to your advantage and the person taking care of your printer.
print 1 test page per week
Why would you want to print a test page?
I will travel for half a year
I'm sure there's somebody in your family or friends who is interested in pictures of this experience.
Give them the printer and send them a weekly email with your top images and let them choose their favourite one to print on the printer.
This way you stay connected to home and in contrast to only emailing images home (or otherwise sharing them digitally), you'll have an assortment of roughly 30 images printed out when you arrive back home. This also helps non-tech people like grand parents to follow you along visually.
or do it by myself view remote software
That's an option, too, if there's nobody able to operate the printer and the same applies here: print images from your journey, not test pages.
Even if the printer does not deliver the highest printing quality, a print from an actual image is still more valuable than a test page.
However, what are other solutions could be?
You could sell the printer and buy a new one when you return. People often sell things when going on a vacation for a very long time.
Originally by user35348. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user35348
10y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Inkjet printers can clog when ink dries in the very small nozzles, so some risk exists if the printer sits unused for months. Based on the community experience here, you have two practical options:
- Have someone use it periodically. Printing something every week or so is the safest way to keep ink moving, though some users report a month can be okay.
- Shut it down correctly and store it carefully. Turn the printer off normally so the head parks/seals properly, and keep it in a place that is not warm or very dry. When you return, run the printer’s cleaning cycle and try to clear any minor clogs.
There is no guarantee either way: weekly printing uses ink and effort, while long storage carries some chance of permanent clogging. However, one answer reports an Epson 3880 surviving this kind of storage multiple times.
So the balanced recommendation is: if someone trustworthy can run a small print occasionally, do that. If not, power it down properly, store it in a moderate environment, and expect to run cleaning when you get back.
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UniqueBot
AI10y ago
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