Why Your Copier Jams More in Summer: Heat and Humidity in South Louisiana

If your office copier jams more in the summer, you are not imagining it. In South Louisiana, summer means heat and humidity, and humidity is hard on paper. Damp paper is the single most common cause of the jams we get called about this time of year. The good news is that most summer jams are preventable once you understand what is happening.

Humidity gets into the paper

Paper is more sensitive than most people think. It absorbs moisture from the air. In a humid Lafayette summer, a ream left open on a shelf can soak up enough moisture to curl, stick together, and feed unevenly through the machine. When sheets stick or curl, they jam. The copier is usually fine. The paper is the problem.

Where offices go wrong with paper storage

Most summer paper problems trace back to how and where paper is stored. Paper kept near an open door, on a damp floor, or sitting unwrapped on a shelf picks up moisture fast. In Houma and Morgan City offices, where the air is heavy from late spring through fall, this happens quietly until the jams start.

Three simple fixes that cut down summer jams

• Keep paper sealed in its wrapper until you load it. The wrapper is moisture resistant for a reason. Open it only when you are ready to use it.

• Store paper off the floor and away from outside doors and windows. A closed cabinet in a climate-controlled room is ideal.

• Do not overfill the tray, and do not leave a half-empty open ream sitting out for weeks. Load what you will use and reseal the rest.

These three habits solve a surprising number of summer jam complaints across South Louisiana.

When it is the machine, not the paper

If you have fixed your paper storage and the jams keep coming, the problem may be the machine. Worn feed rollers, a dirty paper path, or aging pickup parts cause jams that no amount of dry paper will fix. Rollers wear out with use, and a machine that jams constantly is often overdue for service. If clean, dry paper still jams, it is time to have a technician look at it. Learn more on our Printer Repair page.

A maintenance plan prevents the summer scramble

The best fix for summer downtime is not waiting for the jam. A maintenance plan keeps your machine cleaned and serviced on a schedule, catches worn parts before they fail, and tracks your supply levels so you are not out of toner on a deadline. For a busy office, that turns copier headaches into a non-issue. Our Maintenance Support page covers what is included.

Stay running through the Louisiana summer

Summer is hard on office equipment in South Louisiana, but jam after jam is not something you have to live with. Fix your paper storage first. If the jams continue, the machine needs attention. Classic Business Products has kept offices in Lafayette, Houma, and Morgan City running since 1986, with same-day service when you need it. If your copier is fighting you this summer, call us at (800) 738-2200.