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Is It Safe To Put A Printer On The Floor?

If you work in an office, you must have encountered a printer. Whether it was at the office, at the cyber cafe, or a printing shop, the printer is a popular and commonly used machine. They are found in different sizes and possess different speeds and sophistication. However, just like with any other equipment or machine, its usage, storage, and positioning are guided by some precautions, safety tips, and factors. It is essential to consider how to increase the printers’ productivity, long life span and maintain the general safety of those in its vicinity. So, one question we must ask about its storage is one of, “is it safe to put a printer on the floor?”

Absolutely Not! Putting a printer on the floor poses many more risks than any upside that you can come up with. It is an absolute hazard. There are several less risky and great spots where you can choose to place your printer. The floor does not top that list! 

A printer’s location and the spot where you choose to place is a matter of great importance. This is because it should be free from environmental hazards and other factors that negatively affect its performance.

This post will give you a clear insight into why putting your printer on the floor may do you more harm than good. It will also point out alternative spots that are more suitable for your printer.

Reasons Why It Is An Awful Idea To Put The Printer On The Floor

1.The Floor Will Encourage Dust Build-up in the Printer

It is essential to always put your printer on a spot that is not a “hotspot” for dust accumulation. On the floor, the build-up of dust can clog the printer head nozzles, which can cause your printer to jam.

The short-term result of this is that you get shoddy print jobs. The documents resulting from such a printer are of very poor quality and waste your ink and money. Also, the long-term result is that this condition can reduce the useful life of your printer when prolonged.

2.The Printer May Knock and Injure You

It is not uncommon to hear about knock-related injuries when it comes to a printer. With all the activities that occur around an office, cyber cafe, or a printing shop, such an injury is likely to happen.

You may get too carried away with work and get consumed by what you are doing. This may result in a printer causing an injury to your knees or feet. It is needless to say that a lot of pain will follow!

3.Cords and Cables May Cause Unforeseen Damage

Like any other electrical equipment, the printer has many cables and cords connected to it. Such cables include the electrical cords and power cables that connect your printer to the wall socket or extension.

Again, a little absent-mindedness or being too carried away with work can be detrimental in such a situation. The electrical cables can trip you. You can get terrible injuries as a result of such falls. From fractures to bruises and even head injuries, potential injuries are numerous.

These cords and cables can also cause electric shocks when they are worn out over time, and you step on them or touch them.

4.Printers on the floor are more prone to spillages.

When spillages from water or other liquids fall into a printer, fires and electric shocks may occur. Electrical fires and shocks are also more likely to occur if you place your printer on the floor. T

ake an instance where you are mopping the floor. An accidental knock of the bucket that contains the mopping water can be disastrous. Water from a drinking glass can also fall onto the printer.

Water spills may find its way onto the electrical cables and power cords. This can cause severe electrical shocks and fires that can cause huge losses.

Best Practices To Consider If You Have To Put Your Printer On The Floor

If you have to place your printer on the floor, there are tips you need to consider.

 

  • If your really have no other choice than to put your printer on the floor, you can select a strategic point of the room near a power socket but relatively far away from spots in the room that are perceived to be high-traffic areas.
  • Just like in any other electrical equipment, always check the conditions of the power cords and electrical cables to ensure they are not worn out. If the insulating sheaths are worn out, leaving the cables frayed, be proactive in arranging the necessary repairs. If you don’t do this, there can be electrical fires and even electrocution, and potential loss of lives.
  • To minimize the chances of dust build-up in the printer that would otherwise clog your printer heads when it is placed on the floor, use a printer dust cover. This protective cover should be put on the printer whenever it is not in use. Essentially, this goes a long way in reducing the duration that your printer is exposed to dust particles. Since you have chosen the floor as the most suitable spot for your printer, you need to clean your printer regularly to offset potential dust build-up.
  • Always ensure that cups and containers holding water and other liquids are put as far away from the printer as possible. This is the best prevention measure from potential spillages on your printer.
  • Also, be keen and super careful whenever you are cleaning the floors. Minimize the distractions so that you can complete cleaning without any hitches, e.g., spillages that may occur when you knock over a bucket of water you are using to clean the room. Also, always keep your eyes open for the electrical cables when you are cleaning areas near which these power cords are found. Any lapse in concentration here is a potential death trap!

 

Is There Anywhere Else You Can Place Your Printer Other Than The Floor?

1.On Your Desk or Office Cabinet

A desk or office cabinet provides one of the best spots for placing your printer. You will find office printers are mainly placed on a desk or cabinet in both work and home offices.

Due to their elevated nature, desks and cabinets can minimize risk factors such as dust accumulation and spillages that may otherwise make the working environment very dangerous to work in.

2.A Printer Stand

A printer stand is a highly convenient spot where you can put your printer. It can even fit under your desk. This means that with the printer stand, you can be able to save a lot of space and create more room in your workstation.

More room means more effortless movements around your area and reduced chances of accidents and injuries.

3.A Shelf

In a home office, there are several spots where shelves can be found or put in. Some desks come with narrow shelves underneath. This can serve as a safe place to put your small printer. Any moderately elevated shelves may also serve as great spots for your printer but keep in mind that the elevation levels have to be just “good enough.”

Shelves that are too high can present you with challenges in connecting the cables to the power sockets and even computer(s). Shelves that are too low defeat the purpose of using a shelf as the printer being too close to the ground means a greater chance of facing the risk factors you are trying to avoid.

4.In Your Closet?

This is an innovative way to store your printer. It can prove very effective when it comes to the wireless printer. Also, the spot is an excellent choice since it is free from a lot of “traffic.”

The area is also effective in reducing the risk factors of spillages and extreme dust build-up in your printer, being affected by extreme dust build-up.

5.A Printer Table

A printer table is also one of the most common places that printers are placed. However, there is a catch. For the printer table to be an excellent spot to place your printer on, it must have a reasonable measure of elevation from the floor.

This is to avoid the possibility of dust build-up that would otherwise pose a massive problem if it was to be placed on the floor. The tabletop holding the printer must also have a wide surface to minimize the printer’s chances of toppling over.

General Safety Tips To Prolong The Useful Life Of Your Printer

The difference between the “death” and the health of your printer is only a little maintenance. There are a few simple routine activities and practices that can significantly boost your printer’s long-term performance. Let us explore some of them.

1.Frequent Cleaning of the Printer’s Interior

Many people always clean and dust the exterior of their printers. However, interior cleaning of this equipment is of utmost importance and one way to increase your printer’s life span. Never allow dirt particles or excess paper dust to accumulate in your printer.

Attempt to regularly open up your printer and wipe off these excess particles. This will discourage clogging of the printer heads and boost your printer’s performance over a long period.

2.Always Remember to Shut the Manual Feed Tray When Not in Use

The manual feed tray is always found “poked out” and projected outwards, always ready for you to fill it with paper. It is one of the parts of a printer that can be easily damaged.

A simple bump into it can break it. You are therefore encouraged to close this tray whenever you finish using it. This helps to minimize the chances of breaking it with people accidentally knocking and bumping into the feed tray.

3.Always (and Carefully) Replace the Printer’s Cartridges Before They Dry Up

Leaving the cartridges to dry up before you replace them can promote wear and tear of your printer heads. Also, when replacing the cartridges, avoid touching the bottom of the cartridges.

This will negatively affect the printed material’s quality that is produced. Proper handling and early maintenance will save you a lot on future expenses.

4.Put the Printer Away From Excess Humidity and Heat

Excess humidity may result in pages sticking together and the toner peeling off from the pages. These conditions will ruin your print jobs.

On the other hand, excess heat causes your cartridges to dry up faster and increases the printer head’s risk of wear and tear. Keep your printer in a dry place with cool temperatures for maximum productivity.

5.Standby Mode is preferred.

Repeatedly turning off your printer on and off is guaranteed to damage your printer over time. Always leaving it on is not a better option since this will cause your printer to generate a lot of heat that speeds up the drying of your cartridges.

The standby mode is thus the best option, especially when you know you will not use the printer for a considerable amount of time.

 

Summary – Is It Safe To Put A Printer On The Floor?

In conclusion, placing your printer on the floor has a lot of negative repercussions that may result. From electric shocks to electrical fires, the negative consequences that may result from picking out the floor as the best place for your printer are many.

There are a host of other great spots to place your printer on, as we have seen. Convert that bedroom closet into a spot for your print. That shelf that is lying idle in your living room can be another suitable place.

Choose a safer place. Also, practice the care and handling tips given to maximize and prolong the life of your home office printer. Keep the above in mind, and you will enjoy working at home safely with a productive printer.