{"id":8740,"date":"2020-02-27T23:29:33","date_gmt":"2020-02-27T23:29:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/?p=8740"},"modified":"2023-05-26T21:06:55","modified_gmt":"2023-05-26T21:06:55","slug":"when-should-i-replace-my-printer-cartridge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ldproducts.com\/blog\/when-should-i-replace-my-printer-cartridge\/","title":{"rendered":"When should I replace my printer cartridge?"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n\r\n

An “out of ink” message on your printer’s display screen is the first sign it’s time for new cartridges, but you may not have to replace them the moment your printer breaks the news. If you want to be absolutely<\/em> sure your cartridges are ready for replacement, there are a few easy ways to check. Here, we show you how and offer a few tips on extending your cartridge life too so you can delay that inevitable replacement order!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Check the ink levels on your printer\u2019s display<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

When in doubt, check your printer cartridge levels!\u00a0 Almost every printer includes a cartridge level monitoring system on the printer display screen that tracks the remaining ink or toner.\u00a0 Most cartridge levels can be found under the \u201cmaintenance\u201d section of the display screen.\u00a0 If a particular color is running low, move on to the print test below.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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\"Ink<\/figure>\r\n

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Run a print quality report<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The print quality report breaks down the health of each cartridge.\u00a0 When you run the test, your printer prints a color sample of each cartridge and with that, you can tell which cartridge is performing poorly.\u00a0 This test can also be found under the \u201cmaintenance\u201d section of the printer display, or it can be accessed through the software that was downloaded when you installed the printer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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\"print<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n

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If you own an inkjet printer<\/strong>, run a printhead cleaning, then try printing again<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Poor test results don\u2019t always mean you need to go out and buy new cartridges right away.\u00a0 \u00a0If you haven\u2019t printed in a while, your ink may just need to be primed and a printhead cleaning will usually do the trick.\u00a0 The cleaning process takes a couple of minutes.\u00a0 Once it is completed, print the test page again.\u00a0 If the test pattern looks solid, you are ready to print!\u00a0 If the quality is still poor, let the printer sit for about 10 minutes before running a second cleaning, this allows the ink to soak on the printhead.\u00a0 Keep in mind, running a cleaning on your printer will use up some ink inside the cartridge, so do not be surprised if your ink levels drop a bit after the cleaning.\u00a0 Because of this, we do not recommend running a cleaning more than 1-2 times.\u00a0 Multiple cleanings in a run can deplete a cartridge quickly and expedite the need for a replacement.\u00a0 We walk you through the cleaning process step by step with an Epson Workforce Pro WF-3820 printer below.\u00a0 These steps are similar for most printers, consult your printer’s user guide for specific\u00a0 instructions for your machine.<\/p>\r\n