Summer is in full swing in the Ohio River Valley, and that means fun, sun, and humidity. While summer is meant to be a carefree time, you need to be aware of how extreme humidity can affect your business equipment.

How to tell if this is happening?

If you notice an increase in paper jams or noticeably poor print quality, it’s likely that the summer humidity is to blame. Humidity levels of 45% or higher can also cause your paper to curl, and makes it difficult for printer rollers to properly feed your paper through the machine. If your prints and copies are coming out of your office machines looking like a medieval scroll, you probably have a humidity problem. To check for this before beginning a print job, simply open the paper drawer, pull out the top sheet and crinkle it into a ball. If it does not make a sound it is likely you will experience issues due to the humidity.

What can you do about it?

If you suspect that your copy paper is holding excess moisture there are a couple of remedies to get back up and running in the hot summer months. First, make sure you are storing your paper 2-4 inches off the ground and preferably in a temperature-controlled room. Second, only load your equipment full of paper if you intend to use all of it in a timely manner.  Paper left in printer trays overnight can absorb moisture. If you are experiencing severe humidity and nothing seems to work, place a dehumidifier in your storage room or by your copier; this will most likely keep your store room and printing areas dry and functioning at maximum efficiency.