Should I leave my Printer On or Off?
When it comes to technology, you may get conflicting advice
about how to best maintain it. Is it better to leave my printer on or turn it
off when I’m not using it? Should I use low-power or standby mode? Here are
some things to take into consideration when determining what is best for your
printer:
All inkjet printers have semiconductor print heads. These
print heads are typically the first thing in a printer that requires
replacement, so you want to preserve their life as long as possible. Keeping
your printer on all the time will keep your print heads cleaner, making them
less likely to break.
Regularly cleaning and maintaining your printer are
essential in ensuring it continues printing high-quality documents for a long
time. The difference between leaving your printer on or turning it off is
generally insignificant in terms of energy costs. For healthier print heads and
more efficient ink consumption, however, it’s better to leave your printer on.
Constantly switching your printer off and on will decrease your printer’s
lifespan, so try to keep the off/on to a minimum.
Ink Consumption
During maintenance cycles, your printer uses up ink –
sometimes 20 to 30 percent per cartridge. This can add up quickly, especially
given the high cost of ink. Using ink to clean print heads is important to
maintain your printer and ensure it lasts longer, but sometimes maintenance
cycles may occur more often than necessary. The frequency of each cycle depends
on the manufacturer, but turning on the printer triggers a maintenance cycle
regardless of manufacturer. For this reason, to minimize ink consumption, it is
recommended that you keep your printer on. This will reduce the number of
maintenance cycles, and keep your ink usage to a minimum.
Power Consumption
Energy costs are often one of people’s biggest worries when
it comes to leaving their printer on. Your printer obviously uses more power on
than off, but energy costs stay relatively low regardless. The average printer
in standby mode consumes about 3 watts of power – less than a typical
nightlight. If your printer operates in standby mode continuously, it only
costs about $2.50 a year.
In power-off mode, your printer will consume less than 1
watt, and probably cost about $0.85 a year. Standby mode costs almost three
times as much as a printer in off mode. But at under $3 a year, the cost of
keeping your printer on is negligible. Long story short, when it comes to power
consumption and energy costs, it won’t really matter if you leave your printer
on or turn it off.
Global Brand, Local Experts
Cartridge World’s experienced and impartial staff will take
the time to understand your printing needs and recommend the right ink, toner,
printer and supplies for you or your business. Find a Cartridge World store
near you.
Comments
Post a Comment