Do Ink Cartridges Have a Shelf Life?
Yes, unfortunately, liquid ink is subject to deterioration even when sealed inside its original packaging. Over time, it may dry out or pigment may separate and settle inside the cartridge. Leading printer manufacturers who are also the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of ink cartridges for their printers will include an expiration date on their cartridges.
The estimated length of time that ink cartridges will last and still be usable, when kept in their sealed packaging, is known as their shelf life. The period of time, which varies dependant on the type of cartridge in question, is determined by the manufacturers through rigorous testing. The OEMs tend to be more conservative in the setting of the expiry dates of their cartridges than after-market or compatible manufacturers are. Typical OEM expiration dates are 24 months from date of manufacture while manufacturers of compatible units claim shelf lives of up to 36 months. Using expired products can cause clogging of your printer and may even damage it. It is good practice to make at least one print every couple of weeks after installing ink cartridges to keep the cartridge and printer primed. Interestingly, one of the advantages of laser cartridges is that they contain toner which is a dry plastic powder which cannot dry out.
How Accurate is the Expiration Date on Ink Cartridges?
Expiration dates are supplied to encourage consumers to use them before they deteriorate to a point where print quality is adversely affected or clogging occurs. Expiration dates can at best be viewed as a guideline. Firstly, manufacturers tend to err on the side of caution when setting the expiration dates because they do not want end users to have a bad experience when using their products. Secondly, because of a number of external factors, it is very difficult for the manufacturer to accurately determine how long the ink in a replacement unit will remain good. Storage temperatures during the journey from the factory to the end user’s home or office have a considerable impact on the rate of deterioration of a printer cartridge, for instance. Were the ink cartridges stored in an upright position at all times? Units stored on their side or upside down will be more prone to deterioration and print quality issues.
What are the Ideal Storage Conditions?
A cartridge should be stored in a dark, dry location between 15 and 25°C. Extremes of either heat or cold will adversely affect the ink they contain, leading to poor print quality or even rendering the unit unusable. Units that are removed from their packaging will start drying out. Open the packaging immediately prior to installing the unit.
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