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How To / Maintenance

Cleaning the Print Head

Using the Head Cleaning utility
Using the control panel buttons

If you find that the printed image is unexpectedly faint or that dots in the printed image are missing, you may be able to solve these problems by cleaning the print head, which ensures that the nozzles are delivering ink properly.

You can clean the print head from your computer using the Head Cleaning utility in the printer software, or from the printer itself by using the printer's control panel buttons.

Note:

Print head cleaning uses both color and black ink. To avoid wasting ink, clean the print head only if print quality declines. For example, if the printout is blurry or the color is incorrect or missing.

Use the Nozzle Check utility first to confirm that the print head needs to be cleaned. This saves ink.

You cannot clean the print head while the black or color ink out light is flashing or on. Replace the appropriate ink cartridge first.

Do not start the Head Cleaning or Nozzle Check utility while printing is in progress; otherwise, your printout may be marred.

Using the Head Cleaning utility

Refer to the appropriate section below to clean the print head using the Head Cleaning utility.

For Windows users

Follow the steps below to clean the print head.

Make sure that the printer is on and both the black and color ink out lights are off.

Note:

If the black or color ink out light is flashing, you cannot clean the print head. Replace the appropriate ink cartridge first.

Access the printer software. For directions, see Accessing the printer software.

Click the Utility tab, then click the Head Cleaning button.

Follow the on-screen instructions.

The power light flashes while the printer performs the cleaning cycle. This takes about thirty seconds to complete.

Caution:

Never turn off the printer while the power light is flashing. Doing so may damage the printer.

When the power light stops flashing, click Print nozzle check pattern in the Head Cleaning dialog box to confirm that the head is clean and to reset the cleaning cycle.

Below are nozzle check patterns:

Good sample

Print head needs to be cleaned

If you find that any segments are missing from the nozzle check pattern, you may need to repeat the head cleaning and print the pattern again.

If print quality hasn't improved after repeating this procedure four or five times, turn the printer off and leave it alone overnight. Then, perform the head cleaning again.

If the print quality still has not improved, one or both of your ink cartridges may be old or damaged and may need to be replaced. To replace an ink cartridge before it is empty, see Replacing an Old or Damaged Ink Cartridge.

If print quality remains a problem after replacing the ink cartridges, contact your dealer.

Note:

To maintain print quality, EPSON recommends turning on the printer for at least one minute every month.

For Macintosh users

Follow the steps below to clean the print head.

Make sure that the printer is on and the black and color ink out lights are off.

Click the Utility icon button, then click the Head Cleaning button.

Follow the on-screen instructions.

The power light flashes while the printer performs the cleaning cycle. This operation takes about thirty seconds to complete.

Caution:

Never turn off the printer while the power light is flashing. Doing so may damage the printer.

When the power light stops flashing, click the Confirmation button in the Head Cleaning dialog box to print a nozzle check pattern and to reset the cleaning cycle. Use the check pattern to confirm that the print head is clean.

If print quality hasn't improved after repeating this procedure four or five times, turn the printer off and leave it alone overnight. Then, perform the head cleaning again.

If the print quality still has not improved, one or both of the ink cartridges may be old or damaged and may need to be replaced. To replace an ink cartridge, see Replacing an Old or Damaged Ink Cartridge.

If print quality remains a problem after replacing the ink cartridges, contact your dealer.

Note:

To maintain print quality, EPSON recommends turning on the printer for at least one minute every month.

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Using the control panel buttons

Follow the steps below to clean the print head using the printer's control panel buttons.

Make sure that the power light is on and that both the black and color ink out lights are off.

Note:

If the black or color ink out light is flashing or on, you cannot clean the head, and the operation described here will start the ink cartridge replacement procedure. If you inadvertently start the ink cartridge replacement procedure, press the cleaning button to return the print head to its home position.

Depress the cleaning button for three seconds.

The printer starts cleaning the print head and the power light begins flashing. Print head cleaning takes about thirty seconds to complete.

Caution:

Never turn off the printer while the power light is flashing. Doing so may damage the printer.

When the power light stops flashing, print a nozzle check pattern to confirm that the head is clean and to reset the cleaning cycle.

If print quality hasn't improved after repeating this procedure four or five times, turn the printer off and leave it alone overnight. Then, perform the head cleaning again.

If the print quality still has not improved, one or both of your ink cartridges may be old or damaged and may need to be replaced.To replace an ink cartridge before it is empty, see Replacing an Old or Damaged Ink Cartridge.

If print quality remains a problem after replacing the ink cartridges, contact your dealer.

Note:

To maintain print quality, EPSON recommends turning on the printer for at least one minute every month.

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