How To Tell If Your Printer Drum Is Bad: A Quick Guide

As we know, laser printers have become an essential part for corporate companies and it’s important to keep them in good condition for more productivity. They can also last for a long time if you properly maintain them. Tech Dogs provides onsite printer maintenance services to manage fleet printer operations nationwide. Whether you are facing  printer drum issues or other printer management, Tech Dogs will fix it with no cost.

Printer Drum is one of the most critical parts of a laser printer. Over time, the quality of printer drums became more poor. In this blog, we will explain how to tell if your printer drum is bad, let’s take the example of Brother printers. We will let you know about Brother printer drum replacement and how to reset the drum on a Brother printer after installation. 

What is a Printer Drum?

A printer drum is a key part of a laser printer which is also known as an imaging drum. It works with toner cartridges that transfer toner from the toner cartridge onto paper. It is not like inkjet printers that use liquid ink, laser printers use toner powder (dry powder) which the drum unit helps fuse onto the paper. If your printer drum is not working properly, it can lead to faded prints, black spots, or streaks on documents.

What Makes a Printer Drum Dirty?
A printer drum gets dirty because of toner, because the job of a printer drum is to transfer the toner from the cartridge to the paper. The toner cartridge places the toner on a roller which is the part of the drum. Then the printer drum transfers the toner powder on the paper and then uses the heat or light to print it. When the drum unit does its job, toner naturally sticks to the drum which becomes soiled after the printing process. As a result, toner over time leads to a dirty drum which causes poor print quality if not cleaned regularly.

How to Know When a Printer Drum Needs Replacement?

If your prints are not as clear and sharp as they used to be before, it means there is a fault  with your printer drum. Check these common signs, if printer drum is not working properly:

Faded Prints: If your documents are coming out lighter than usual, even after changing the toner, the drum might be worn out.

Streaks or Lines: Unwanted lines or marks appearing on your prints indicate the drum is scratched or dirty.

Black Spots or Smudges: If you notice random black spots on printed pages, the drum could be damaged.

Repeated Print Defects: When the same defect appears in the same place on multiple pages, it’s a sign that your printer drum is bad.

Drum Life Warning Message – Most Brother printers display messages on the printer screen, when your printer needs to replace or repair the drum.

When and How to Replace Printer Drum? 

Brother printers use a separate drum unit and toner cartridge. This means you may need to replace the drum unit even if your toner is full. Typically, a Brother printer drum lasts for around 12,000 to 15,000 pages, depending on the model.

Steps to Replace the Drum on a Brother Printer

• First turn off the Printer and unplug it for safety.
• Then open the front cover of the printer where you can find the toner and drum unit inside.
• Gently remove the drum and toner Assembly. 
• Then separate the toner from the drum.
• Next, let’s install a new drum. You just need to attach the toner to your new drum unit.
• Slide the assembly back into the printer and make sure it fits securely.
• Close the front cover and save it properly before turning the printer back on.
• After replacing the drum, you must reset the drum to clear the warning message.

How to Reset Drum on Brother Printer

To reset the drum counter is important after the Brother printer drum replacement. Follow these steps and reset the printer drum. 

• Turn on the Printer to reset the brother printer drum.
• Then, open the front cover while resetting.
• Next step is, press and hold the ‘OK’ button. But in some printers, press ‘GO’ or ‘Start’ instead of the ‘OK’ button.
• Follow the on-screen instructions, if you see the select ‘Drum’ option & confirm reset button.  
• Then, close the front cover and your printer drum is ready to print.

How to Extend the Life of Printer Drum?

To avoid frequent Brother printer replacement drum issues, follow these maintenance tips:

• Use High-Quality Paper – Poor-quality paper can leave dust, damaging the drum.
• Store Toner Properly – Keep toner and drum units in a dry, cool place.
• Clean the Drum Regularly – Gently wipe the drum with a lint-free cloth.
• Avoid Overprinting – Printing large batches at once can overheat the drum.

Conclusion

A bad printer drum can affect print quality, but replacing it is simple. If you notice faded prints, streaks, or black spots, it’s time to replace your printer drum. Once replaced, don’t forget to reset the drum on your Brother printer for a flawless printing process. Regular maintenance will help extend the life of your printer drum and keep your prints crisp and clear. But still you are confused whether to replace or install the printer drum, consult with a printer maintenance expert team like Tech Dogs. 

Schedule free consultation with Tech Dogs experts and get FREE onsite printer maintenance services nationwide. It’s a big relief for IT directors and their staff who are stuck with long term expensive contracts for printer maintenance. We have no expensive contacts, no surprise cost only you will enjoy flexibility with us. Say goodbye to hidden fees and costly contracts. With our flexible options, you will enjoy printer management services, without any unexpected expenses. 

Need to fix your printer drum? Contact Tech Dogs today for FREE onsite printer maintenance.