Everyone is looking for different ways to save money.  Why pay for costly equipment repairs that could have been easily avoided.  We have compiled a list of things that you can do today to avoid unnecessary repair bills for your electronic equipment.

Don’t Overlook the Obvious

If your electronic office equipment goes on the fritz, here are a couple of things that you should do before you call a repairman:

      1.  Make sure the plug is in at both ends.

      2.  Make sure that the equipment is turned on.

You may laugh, but nearly one-third of all repair calls are caused by overlooking these two simple steps.

Keep Your Owner’s Manuals

Most electronic equipment comes with an owner’s manual.  There is usually a troubleshooting section located near the back of the booklet.  This information can save your office valuable time and money.  If you don’t have your owner’s manual, many manufacturers put their manuals online for quick reference. 

Avoid Paper Jams in Printers

Fan your paper both directions before loading it into your equipment and always tap it on a hard surface to level the pages out.  Some machines pull the paper on the 8 1/2" side while others pull from the 11" side. Fanning the paper reduces the chance of jamming by separating sheets that may be stuck together.

Always use the correct paper size.  All printers have a minimum and maximum paper size that they will accept.  Paper that is too small is likely to get jammed and ripped when trying to remove it.

Don’t mix paper sizes in one paper tray.

Check your paper guides.  If they are too loose or too tight it will cause the paper to go into the printer at an odd angle.

Don’t use bent paper or paper with curled corners.

Store paper on a flat surface, away from heat and humidity- this avoids curling.

Not all printers work the same way.  Check your owner’s manual before you purchase paper.  Your owner’s manual will tell you what type of paper products are compatible with your printer.  Paper will be labeled for inkjet or laser compatibility.

Don’t buy cheap paper it can cause paper jams in both printers and fax machines.

A Good Cleaning

A good and proper cleaning can fix a multitude of problems.  Always refer to your owner’s manual for the proper cleaning methods for your electronic equipment.

Have any tips to share?

The dilemma of purchasing refurbished equipment has Shakespearian importance. The initial cost savings is an appropriate reason for considering the purchase of used equipment that has been modernized and updated. The greatest concern in procuring refurbished equipment is rightfully the potential long-term expense of maintaining this piece of equipment as it ages. As technological innovations constantly increase, the need for up-to-date equipment becomes more of a necessity, so where does one find the balance between technological trend and cost?

Has your company had positive results with the purchase of newly refurbished equipment, or has the item become a money pit and exhausted funds?  Share your experiences…