Living in South Florida means living with humidity. We know what it does to our hair, our cars, and our homes. But few business owners realize the silent toll it takes on their office equipment until the paper jams start happening every afternoon at 3:00 PM.
If you have ever pulled a piece of hot, curled paper out of a jammed copier in your Fort Lauderdale office, you aren’t just dealing with a mechanical failure. You are dealing with the environment.
At STAT Business Systems, we don’t just lease copiers; we maintain them in one of the most challenging climates in the country. Here is why the tropical weather is the enemy of standard office equipment, and why Kyocera technology is the best defense.
The Science of the “Florida Jam”
Paper is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air like a sponge. In a standard office environment, paper is designed to have a moisture content of about 4-5%. In a humid Miami summer, if a ream of paper is left open over the weekend, that moisture content can spike.
When that swollen, damp paper enters the fuser unit of a copier (which heats up to over 350°F), the water instantly turns to steam. This causes the paper to curl aggressively, leading to:
- Frequent Jams: The paper curls around rollers instead of passing through.
- Poor Print Quality: Toner fails to bond correctly to damp fibers, leading to spotty or “dusty” prints.
- Wrinkled Documents: Professional contracts come out looking like they were left in a gym bag.
Why “Big Box” Printers Can’t Handle the Heat
Consumer-grade printers found at big-box stores are typically built with plastic gears and organic photoconductor (OPC) drums. In a climate-controlled office in Ohio, they work fine. In a warehouse office in Doral or a suite near the water in Boca Raton, the humidity accelerates the degradation of these sensitive parts. The result is a machine that “ages” twice as fast as it should.
The Kyocera Advantage: Built for Durability
We exclusively recommend Kyocera machines to our South Florida clients because they are engineered differently.
- Ceramic Drums: Kyocera’s patented Amorphous Silicon (a-Si) drums are second only to diamond in hardness. They are impervious to the moisture and salt air that corrode standard organic drums.
- Sealed Toner Systems: Kyocera’s toner cartridges are designed to stay sealed until the moment of use, preventing clumping caused by humidity.
- Cassette Heaters: For clients in particularly humid environments (like construction trailers or older buildings), we can install specialized cassette heaters that keep the paper dry inside the tray, ensuring a crisp print every time.
Protecting Your Investment
You can’t change the weather, but you can change how you handle it. Here are a few tips from our service team:
- Don’t “Open and Leave”: Only open a ream of paper when you are ready to load the tray. Store extra paper in a cabinet, not on the floor.
- Fan the Paper: Before loading, fan the stack of paper to separate the sheets and reduce static and moisture adhesion.
- Choose the Right Partner: You need a service team that understands why your machine is jamming. Our local technicians know the signs of humidity damage and how to prevent it.
FAQ: Copiers and Florida Weather
Q: Why does my copier jam more when it rains? A: Increased humidity causes paper to absorb moisture and swell. When it hits the hot fuser, it steams and curls, causing jams.
Q: Can humidity damage the copier itself? A: Yes. Over time, high humidity and salt air (near the coast) can corrode internal contacts and sensors in cheaper machines. Kyocera’s sealed/ceramic components are more resistant to this.
Q: Do I need a dehumidifier for my server/copier room? A: In many cases, yes. Maintaining a stable humidity level (between 40-60%) will significantly extend the life of your electronics.
Is your current copier succumbing to the swampy weather? Stop fighting with paper jams. Upgrade to a machine built to handle the South Florida climate. Contact STAT Business Systems today for a free equipment assessment.