When you first get a Sawgrass printer, one of the first things you’re advised to do is keep it plugged in and powered on. This allows the printer to perform daily maintenance cycles, ensuring the ink stays moving and reducing the chance of clogged nozzles.
However, there are situations where you may need to power off your printer, such as during maintenance, power outages, or if you’re relocating the printer.
Here are some general tips on what to do when you need to turn off your printer:
- Minimize the time the printer is off. If you’re evacuating for a storm, make the printer one of the last things you turn off and one of the first things you power on when you return. The same goes for travel—pack the printer last and unpack it first when you arrive.
- After reconnecting your printer, run a nozzle check. This can be done through the Printer Features/List/Test Print menu. If the nozzle check shows issues, begin troubleshooting to clear the clog before it worsens.
- When relocating your printer, keep the ink cartridges and waste container inside the printer. This helps avoid air entering the lines and reduces the risk of ink leakage.
- If unplugging during a storm evacuation, place the printer in a safe, protected area away from windows.
In case you don’t print often, you may have questions about keeping the printer on. Here are additional steps to follow when the printer is not in use frequently:
- If you haven’t printed in several weeks, run a nozzle check. You can use regular copy paper instead of sublimation paper, as it doesn’t require much ink and is an efficient way to keep things in check.
- Check the printer’s LCD screen regularly. You should make sure the printer is still powered on, there are no error messages, and that none of the ink cartridges are empty.
- If the nozzle check shows gaps, or if there are any error messages on the printer’s display, take action immediately. Addressing issues early prevents them from escalating. Remember, if your printer is off or in error mode, it won’t be able to complete the necessary maintenance, and problems could worsen over time.
We hope these tips help ease any concerns you have about turning off your printer or not printing for a while. For more advice on keeping your printer in top shape and producing excellent prints, check out our blog for more helpful tips!