It’s inevitable—at some point, you’ll have to deal with a copier in your office that has jammed. Sometimes this is the fault of the equipment simply being old or in need of repairs, while other times it is the user’s fault. But in any case, you can be sure that it will happen at some point.

Fortunately, there are ways you can at least limit the incidence of those paper jams. Here are a few tips you should follow (and spread around your office) to help limit the frequency of copier jams so you can avoid having to call in the pros for copier repair in Phoenix, AZ:

Keep the copier clear

Your copier should be used for office tasks only. It might seem like an obvious point, but you should never set food or drinks on the machine. If there’s a leak or spill, the stickiness or crumps could get inside the copier and severely damage some of its most important parts. If you or anyone else in your office is in the habit of setting their coffee cups down on top of the machine, that’s a habit that needs to end immediately.

Never use torn paper

The uneven edges, tears and wrinkles associated with ripped paper will make the machine much more likely to jam. Any paper inserted into the copier should be flat and in good condition.

Make sure you put the paper in correctly

You should fan your paper before adding it into the paper tray, and then double check to make sure you are putting it right side up. If you are unsure which direction the paper should be fed into the machine, check for the arrows on your ream, and they will guide you.

Use paper as quickly as possible

Over time, paper will begin to absorb moisture, which makes it more likely to jam. If you do not believe you will use a whole ream of paper quickly, store some of it away in a dry area and seal it up to slow down its moisture retention.

Deal with error messages as they arise

If you notice a machine has the same error message with some regularity, this is when you can call in a service provider to give the machine a checkup.

Remove “extras”

Before you add in documents you will copy or scan, make sure to remove staples, paper clips and sticky notes and tape up any torn edges on the papers. The idea is that you want to get rid of anything the copier might eat.

Clean it

Keep your copier clean so it will function efficiently and properly. Dirt can occasionally get inside of rollers and cause them to slip around. Dirt on the glass can result in low-quality copies. Clean out the air filter on a regular basis.

For more information about how you can keep your copier in good shape and avoid jams, contact us about copier repair in Phoenix, AZ.