Well, hello there! If you’re here, it must be Tuesday! Time for another fun little post about the fascinating world of copiers!

You’re probably reading the title of this post and thinking to yourself “Of course my copier doesn’t like getting wet. No electronic device does!”, and you are absolutely right!

HOWEVER, that also includes THE PAPER you put in the copier! You see, a copier does about as much good with wet paper as someone attempting to board a flight midair. In other words, absolutely no good will come of it.

Feeding wet paper into your copier can cause all sorts of issues, from constant jamming to poor print quality. Wet paper can even damage your machine.

Did you know that paper has the ability to soak up moisture in the air? This is why we here at CopyLady strongly advise against storing open reams of paper. The exposed paper will wick up moisture that is in the air. While this is not a huge issue in a perfectly controlled environment, The truth is, there is really no such thing as a perfectly controlled environment. Let’s face it, humidity is everywhere, especially in Florida.

If you open a ream of paper, use the whole thing. Split it among trays if you have to. Storing open reams of paper is just asking for it to become a headache the next time you go to use it. If you MUST store an open ream of paper, store it in a properly climate controlled environment, away from exterior doors and windows.

The humidity and moisture situation is especially exacerbated closer to entry/exit points in a building, such as an exterior door or window. Moist air from the outside environment is often ushered right into the building whenever someone enters or exits. Therefore, you really want to avoid storing paper in these areas, or for that matter, locating a copier or printer near a high traffic egress point.

The way your building A/C is set also plays a crucial role here! Your copier and it’s paper absolutely LOVE a dry, cool environment, versus a hot, moist one.

HOW TO TELL IF YOUR PAPER IS WET: A visual inspection is the best way. Moisture laden paper will have a wavy appearance, and the sheets may be stuck together depending on how wet the paper was. Fresh, dry paper will be perfectly flat.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF WET PAPER GETS IN THE MACHINE: There’s a number of things that can go wrong here, from simple yet repeated jams that can become fairly annoying, to print quality defects, or to more serious issues like the paper separating inside the machine, getting caught in various components. If you are getting what seems like constant jamming, try replacing the paper first. Check the paper you take out of the machine. Is it wavy looking? If replacing the paper cleared the jamming, consider the environment that the machine is located in. If you are unable to move it from where it is at, a dehumidifier can help out.

Our technicians can also install a special device called a cassette heater on your copier. This is a low power heating unit that is designed to help keep the paper in tray dry in humid environments.

The same can be said for scanning wet/damp paper. Running wet or damp paper through your document feeder can also result in horrible jams, along with the risk of the original getting mangled. That being said, it IS safe to scan damp paper using the flat glass as there is no paper movement there. If you must use the feeder, let the sheets dry out. Unlike the printing and copying process, your DP can handle warped paper, as long as it is dry.

In short, save yourself the headache of dealing with jam, after jam, after jam, after jam, and don’t put wet paper in the copier! If you suspect there is wet paper in your copier, swap it out for a new ream!