How long should printers last?

Over the past decade, print technology has advanced at an unprecedented rate, with newer, faster, and smarter models providing printing solutions to meet all of your needs.

As a result, people are choosing to change their printers more frequently if it becomes apparent that the printer no longer meets their requirements.

But how long should a printer last?

Average lifespan of a printer

The average lifespan of a printer is around 3-5 years, providing that you carry out proper upkeep and maintenance. Of course, many machines can last significantly longer than this, depending on how often they are used and what they are used for. You will also find that some models last longer than others.

How to extend the lifespan of a printer

There are a number of different ways to prolong the life of your printer, including:

• Maintain updates to the software
• Ensure that you keep your printer clean
• Address any issues as quickly as possible
• Schedule routine maintenance
• Handle jams and troubleshooting with care
• Avoid exceeding the optimal monthly value

If you have any problems with your printer, you should always get a technician to review it.

When should you replace your printer?

There are many reasons why you might need to replace your printer – it may not be performing well, it might not meet your needs anymore, or print quality could be an issue.

Generally speaking, you should replace your printer when:

• It no longer meets your needs
• Ink cartridges become too expensive
• Printing quality is poor
• Print speed is an issue
• Internal parts have broken down and cannot be fixed.

Should I repair the printer or replace it?

It can be difficult to know if your printer can be repaired, or if it needs to be replaced.

Although printers can often be easily fixed, many issues can be troublesome to repair. With this in mind, repairing your printer might not always be the best option.

There are several other factors that you should take into consideration when deciding whether or not to replace your printer, including:

• The age of the printer
• Is it easy to get a hold of the printer parts?
• Cost per page
• How much will it cost to repair the printer?

Remember, you don’t always need to wait until your old printer breaks down before replacing it. If your printer no longer serves you well and is unable to keep pace with the demands of your printing needs, it’s worthwhile replacing.

What to do with an old printer?

You should never just dispose of a printer in the bin. Instead, you should dispose of it using one of these three options:

Recycle your printer – Recycling your printer is one of the best ways of disposing of it, whilst helping the planet at the same time. There are plenty of businesses that specialise in taking your machine off you and disposing of it in the most eco-friendly way.

Donate your printer – People often don’t realise that there are also plenty of organisations, schools and other educational institutions that are crying out for old equipment! With this in mind, you could always donate your old laptop to someone that needs it.

Sell your printer – Finally, you can always try to sell your old printer to help cover the cost of a new printer.

Perfect Colour’s large format printers and services

Here at Perfect Colours, we offer a range of large format printers and services for businesses working across a diverse range of sectors. Explore Perfect Colour’s services here.