ink jet printer: leave it on or turn it off?

Question

Somebody told me that I should turn off my inkjet printer when not in use because the heat would make the ink harden in the cartridges. What do you guys think? Leave it on or turn it off when not in use? I don't use it very much. I use the laser most of the time.

Answer 1

I turn off most of my printers when they aren't being used, the only one I leave on is my HP Officejet which is also my fax machine. My officejet goes into sleep mode when not in use and doesn't seem to produce any heat at that point, so its more of a matter of preference I guess, as I've had my officejet for 4 years and haven't had a problem with cartridges drying out.

Answer 2

It depends on the printer...I had a Lexmark that kept the ink cartridges out until you turned the printer off...this made the ink on the print heads dry up and they had to be cleaned if that happened. Most now don't do that.

Answer 3

Ink jet printers are designed to be left on. The heat does not make the ink harden, not using them makes the ink harden.

Answer 4

No, it will NOT harden the ink in your printer.

However, it will increase the life of the printer (for the sheer fact that heat decreases component life), but in reality it's not really that important. It's preference - leave it on, turn it off, it won't make much of a difference.

I personally turn mine off.

Answer 5

Most printers have an algorythm that prompts the printhead to spit a few drops from each nozzle into the priming station. No two ways with this answer....do NOT shut off power.

Answer 6

turn it on when you use it. the ink wont get harden if you leave it on but if you don't use it may dry. it also consumes power when you keep it on.