How to Service a Laser Printer

Laser printers need regular service.

Laser printers produce superior output compared to deskjet and inkjet printers, but only if they are properly serviced and maintained. Performing regular maintenance on your laser printer helps ensure that every printout will be of the highest quality, reducing the time and material wasted by inferior output. Regular service can also help the laser printer last longer, saving you both time and money. Owners can service most modern laser printers, reducing the cost of maintenance by eliminating the need for expensive professional service.

Things You'll Need

• Printer
• Small vacuum cleaner
• Soft cloth
• Replacement rollers
• Toner cartridge
• Fuser cartridge

Instructions

1. Shut down the printer and remove the power cord. Allow the printer to cool for at least 30 minutes before working on it. The fuser cartridge and other components get quite hot, and you could burn yourself if you do not allow the laser printer to cool.

2. Open the toner cartridge door and carefully lift the toner cartridge out of the printer. Set the toner cartridge aside. Use a small vacuum cleaner to clean up any paper dust and toner residue from the compartment. Dust and dirt tend to accumulate in this area, and that debris can affect the quality of the printouts. The type of vacuum cleaner used to clean computer components works best for this purpose. Clean the inside of the printer with a soft cloth to remove any remaining residue.

3. Locate the fuser cartridge door. One most laser printers, the fuser is located either on the left-hand side as you face the printer, or in the back of the unit. Flip down the clips that hold the fuser in place, then carefully slide the cartridge out of the printer.

4. Replace the fuser cartridge with a new one. If you ordered a maintenance kit for your laser printer, it should include a new fuser cartridge, as well as new rollers for the paper trays. Slide the new fuser into the printer until it snaps into place, then flip the retaining clips up to hold it in place. If the clips will not move into position, the fuser is not properly positioned. Remove it and put it back in place until the clips move easily.

5. Pull the paper tray out of the printer until it stops, then gently lift up on it until it slides free of the channel. Remove the paper tray and set it aside.

6. Reach inside the printer and feel for the rollers that guide the paper out of the tray. These rollers are located on the right-hand side of the printer, right where the paper tray was. If the rollers feel smooth, they need to be replaced. The rollers need to have some roughness in order to grab the paper effectively.

7. Slide the rollers off the bars inside the printer and discard them. Slide the new rollers onto the bars until they snap into place. Replace the paper tray and repeat the process for the remaining trays.