How to Prevent Paper Jams
Tips for Loading Media to Keep Printers Working Smoothly
Paper jams can be an annoying and time-consuming interruption. Here are some tips for keeping your printer working smoothly.
Not all printers work with all media. Some printers can handle cardstock, t-shirt transfers, labels, envelopes, bumper stickers, glossy photo paper, and more. Others only accept standard 20-lb. paper. Check your printer’s manual before you buy media. If you don’t have documentation for your printer, look on the manufacturer’s website. Many of them offer user guides for online viewing or download.
When buying media such as labels or photo paper, make sure to buy a brand that says it’s inkjet or laser compatible, to match the type of printer you have. Inkjet and laser printers work in different ways (laser printers use heat to melt toner onto the page), so it’s important to make sure the media surface won’t melt or cause problems inside your printer.
Use the Right Paper Sizes
All printers have minimum and maximum media sizes they’ll accept. While letter size (8 1/2” x 11”) is the standard size in the U.S., some home printers can handle media as small as 3 x 5 cards, or as large as tabloid size (11” x 17”). Paper that’s too small for the printer is likely to get jammed (and may be difficult to remove afterwards).
If you need to print something that’s smaller than your printer’s minimum media size (such as a note card), consider printing on a standard-size sheet of cardstock and cutting it after printing.
Avoid Using Damaged Paper
Paper with bent or curled corners can easily cause a jam. If you must use imperfect paper, position it so the flattest, straightest edge feeds into the printer first.
Also, most manufacturers recommend only using full sheets of labels. Once labels have been removed from the sheet, the edges of the leftover sticky surface can catch inside the printer. If you frequently need to print single labels, you may want to consider purchasing a label printer.
Use the Right Tray
Many printers have a separate tray or slot for special media such as envelopes or labels. This may be called the multipurpose tray, the single-sheet input slot, or the manual-feed tray. If so, be sure to use it when printing special media.
Some printers also have more than one output bin. These bins allow the paper to feed through the printer in a more direct path. This can help prevent jams, and help prevent the paper from wrinkling or curling.
Check your printer’s documentation for information on how to use these trays, and how to select them in your software.
Load the Paper Correctly
Be sure to adjust your printer’s guides for the size of paper that you’re using. Paper guides that are too loose or too tight can cause the paper to go into the printer at an angle, causing a jam. Don’t mix more than one paper size or type in the tray at the same time.
Also, don’t overload the paper trays. Your printer’s documentation should say how many sheets of paper or envelopes the tray can hold.
To add more paper to a stack, first remove all the paper from the printer tray. Add more paper to the existing stack, and tap it against a desk or other surface so that all the edges line up. Then load the entire stack in the printer tray. (This may seem obsessive, but it will prevent any odd edges or corners from sticking out, and help keep the printer from jamming.)
Keep the Printer Clean
Paper dust and ink or toner buildup inside the printer can lead to jams, and lessen the print quality. Most printers have a built-in cleaning system. This usually involves selecting a cleaning setting in the printer software. The printer may run several pages through the printer during the cleaning process.
Your printer’s user guide may also advise you to dust the outer parts of the printer, including the paper trays. (Warning: Don’t use alcohol or other cleaners on the printer unless the documentation specifically says to do so.)
Learn Your Printer’s Quirks
As you use your printer, you may notice that it often jams when printing on certain types of media.
For example, some printers will jam if you put a stack of cardstock in the tray, but will do fine when fed one sheet at a time. (Even if the manual says it’s okay to use a stack.) These quirks can be annoying, but you can often save time (and effort) by preventing a paper jam.
