The Brother HL-2220 is a great printer for personal, business and office use. It’s a monochrome laser printer that satisfies your most basic printing needs and offers up to 21 ppm and considerable quality at 2400 x 600 dpi. It certainly does its job well even with its compact and stylish design.
But like with any machine, there will be times when it doesn’t work as it should. It is not uncommon for users to experience compatible printer cartridge and drum unit issues with their printers, which can lead to frustration and lost time. Compatible cartridges and drum units from aftermarket companies are much cheaper than originals, but they don’t always seem to work as intended. Before it is an issue with the cartridge itself, the problem could lie on other physical factors or even on the printer software. There are cases when users mistake a printer problem for a cartridge problem (or vice versa) so it is best to fully equip yourself with any means possible to fix the problem.
Drum light remains on.
If the drum light on your Brother HL-2220 remains lit after you’ve replaced the compatible drum unit, it is an indication that the machine is not able to read the new drum unit. Here are the steps to properly and correctly replace the drum unit:
- Open the access panel on the front. You will immediately see the drum unit.
- Pull the drum unit towards you and take it out.
- Unpack the new compatible drum unit and remove the protective coverings.
- Insert the new drum unit into the machine until you hear it click into place. Ensure that the tabs align properly.
- Close the access panel.
- The machine should now reset and the drum light should go off.
If the drum light remains on after following these steps, you may have to reset the drum counter. This method is compatible for Brother HL-2220, HL-2230, HL-2240, HL-2270 and HL-2275 printers as well.
- Turn on the printer and open the access panel.
- With the front access panel still open, press on the green 'Go' button on the printer and hold until all the indicators are lit up.
- Let go and press the 'Go' button again once.
- Close the access panel and wait for the machine to reset again.
- The drum light should now be off, indicating that the new drum unit has been read and is now working.
- Print a test page.
If the drum light remains on even after resetting the drum counter, it is best to seek professional help as this could indicate a hardware issue. Or, contact the customer support of the company where you purchased the compatible cartridge or drum unit.
Ghost printing.
Ghost printing is when faint images or lines are printed on your document even though there should be nothing there. This is often caused by a dirty drum unit but can also be indicative of other issues.
To clean the drum unit:
- Turn off your Brother printer and unplug it from the power outlet.
- Open the front access panel and take out the drum unit and toner cartridge assembly.
- Take the drum unit out of the assembly.
- Gently wipe the primary corona wire inside the drum unit with the sliding tab or by using a clean cotton bud.
- Reinsert the drum unit into the assembly and put it back into the machine.
- Close the access panel and plug in the printer to the power outlet.
- Turn on your Brother printer and wait for it to initialize.
- Try printing a test page.
Compatible cartridge not recognized.
It is not uncommon for your Brother printer to not recognize a new compatible cartridge. This is often caused by using the wrong cartridge or having a defective one. Before anything else though, check if the cartridge is properly installed and if the contact points are clean. This is a common problem that some users can often overlook.
Here are the steps to clean the contact points:
- Turn off your Brother printer and unplug it from the power outlet.
- Open the front access panel and take out the drum unit and toner cartridge assembly.
- Take out the compatible toner cartridge from the assembly.
- The gold contact points are the gold-colored squares on the sides of the black toner. Gently wipe the contact points on both sides of the cartridge using a dry, lint-free cloth.
- Reinsert the cartridge into the assembly and put it back into the machine.
- Close the access panel and plug in the printer to the power outlet.
- Turn on your Brother printer and wait for it to initialize.
- Try printing a test page.
You also have to reset the toner counter when you switch out cartridges as the printer may not be doing this automatically.
- Turn off your Brother printer.
- Open the front access panel and leave it open.
- Press on the 'Go' button and hold it while turning the printer back on.
- Release the button once the indicator lights have lit up.
- Press the 'Go' button twice and the indicator lights should remain lit.
- Press the 'Go' button 7 times and the 'Error' light should be flashing.
- Close the access panel and wait for the printer to initialize.
- After initializing, the 'Toner' light should no longer be lit up.
- Print a test page.
If you are still experiencing issues with your compatible cartridge, it is best to seek professional help or to contact the customer support of the company where you purchased it.
Paper jam from a compatible cartridge.
Paper jams can be frustrating, especially if it constantly happens. If you are experiencing paper jams and you just replaced your old cartridge with a compatible one, this could be due to static build-up. Worn-out rollers are also a common cause of paper jams especially in older printer models.
To fix this:
- Turn off your Brother printer and unplug it from the power outlet.
- Remove all the paper from the tray and inspect for any tears or debris.
- Gently wipe down the rollers inside the machine with a dry, lint-free cloth.
- Take out the drum unit and toner cartridge assembly and check for any jammed paper inside.
- If there is any jammed paper, carefully remove it and make sure not to tear it.
- Put the assembly back into the machine and close the access panel.
- Plug in your printer to the power outlet and turn it on.
- Try printing a test page.
It is a good idea to clean your printer every-so-often to prevent any build-up of dirt and debris which can cause paper jams.
Print quality is not as good as expected from compatible cartridges.
When you first use a compatible cartridge, the print quality might not be up to par with what you are expecting. This is normal and usually improves after the first few prints. If the print quality does not improve or gets worse, there might be an issue with the cartridge.
To fix this:
- Turn off your Brother printer and unplug it from the power outlet.
- Take out the drum unit and toner cartridge assembly.
- Take out the compatible toner cartridge from the assembly and gently shake it side to side a few times.
- Reinsert the cartridge into the assembly and put it back into the machine.
- Close the access panel and plug in the printer to the power outlet.
- Turn on your Brother printer and wait for it to initialize.
- Try printing a test page.
If you are still not satisfied with the print quality, try repeating steps 1-7 but instead of shaking the cartridge side to side, tap it on a flat surface a few times.
Should you still be experiencing issues with your compatible cartridge, it is best to seek professional help or to contact the customer support of the company where you purchased it. Be sure to purchase your compatible cartridges to reputable brands that have good reviews. Laser Tek is a trusted printer supplies brand that offers TN 450 cartridges compatible with your Brother HL-2220 printer. With LTS TN 450 compatible cartridges, you can save so much without losing out on print quality and page yield. LTS offers a one year money back guarantee so you can be sure that you are getting your money’s worth.
Final thoughts
It is completely understandable to want to save money, especially when it comes to something like printer cartridges which can be quite expensive. Luckily, there are now compatible cartridges that offer the same print quality and page yield but at a fraction of the price of original cartridges. However, it is important to remember that not all compatible cartridges are created equal. There are many factors to consider such as print quality, page yield, and compatibility with your printer model.
The Brother HL-2220 is a trusty and affordable printer that is perfect for homes and small offices and compatible cartridges are a great way to minimize printing cost without compromising on print quality. Even so, it is necessary to take care of your printer and perform regular maintenance to prevent any issues. If you are having difficulties with your compatible cartridge, Laser Tek Services is always ready to help.
