Running out of ink when you’re in the middle of a print job is the worst. It’s frustrating, especially if you don’t happen to have a spare cartridge on hand. You’ve got to get that project run off, and you wonder if there’s anything you could’ve done to get just a few more pages of ink out of that cartridge.
Even worse, when we throw out old print cartridges it causes a lot of waste that can be harmful to the environment. There are, fortunately, tips and tricks you can engage that will squeeze every last drop of toner out of your cartridges before you need to get an ink refill in Henderson, Nevada.
Determine Which Cartridge Is Empty
The first step is to check out which cartridge is reading as empty. You can usually do this with modern printers by opening up the control panel on your printer software. It should show a diagram of each cartridge and the estimated ink levels in each.
Usually, your printer saying a cartridge is out of ink, isn’t necessarily true. It’s just running really low. Most printer manufacturers get all their money from ink sales so they have a vested interest in selling you new cartridges faster.
Give It a Shake
The first thing to do is remove the probably not-quite-empty cartridge from the printer and give it a little shake. Usually this will agitate the leftover toner that’s still in the cartridge, and will at very least allow you to finish your current job. Often, the levels are just low enough that they’re not triggering the sensor—agitating them will redistribute the toner and trigger the sensors to allow you to finish the job.
Cover the Contacts
Your printer cartridge probably has some contact points that are copper or gold. If shaking the cartridge doesn’t work, put a piece of transparent tape over these contacts to trick the sensors in the system. Often, this will also fool the system into allowing you to finish up your job. In this case you should be able to run the printer until the cartridge is truly dry.
The Hair Dryer Trick
If neither the shaking nor the tape trick works, there’s one final option to try. Leave the tape over the contacts, but run a hair dryer over the cartridge until it’s warm to the touch. While it’s still heated up, put it back into the printer and restart the job. Heating it may loosen up the leftover ink and start it flowing once more.
Ink Cartridges Refill in Las Vegas
Don’t waste money on new cartridges. Get an ink refill in Henderson, Nevada. This will not only save you money, it’s eco-friendly and saves a lot of waste. We’ve been helping businesses and private owners in the Henderson region for years, and we’re ready to help you, too. Call Vegas Ink and Toner to get affordable and reliable ink cartridges refill in Las Vegas today!