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Maintenance and Transportation

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 colors 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 by 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, clean the print head 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.

When the Ink Out light is flashing or on, you cannot clean the print head. 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

Follow the steps below to use the Head Cleaning utility.

For Windows users

Make sure that the printer is on and the Ink Out light is off.

Note:

If the Ink Out light is flashing, you cannot clean the print head. Replace the appropriate ink cartridge first.

Access the printer software. If you need instructions, see Accessing the Printer Software.

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

Follow the messages on your screen.

The Operate light flashes while the printer performs the cleaning cycle. It takes about 60 seconds to complete.

Caution:

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

When the Operate 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

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

If print quality has not improved after repeating this procedure four or five times, turn the printer off and leave it alone overnight. Then, clean the head 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, see Replacing Ink Cartridges.

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 1 minute every month.

For Macintosh users

Make sure that the printer is on, and the Ink Out light is off.

Click the Utility icon in the Print or Page Setup dialog box, then click the Head Cleaning button.

Follow the on-screen instructions.

The Operate light flashes while the printer performs a cleaning cycle. It takes about 30 seconds to complete a cleaning cycle.

Caution:

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

When the Operate 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 head is clean.

If print quality has not improved after repeating this procedure four or five times, turn the printer off and leave it alone overnight. Then, clean the heads 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, see Replacing Ink Cartridges.

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

Note:

To maintain print quality, we recommend turning on the printer for at least 1 minute every month.

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Using the control panel buttons

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

Make sure that the Operate light is on and the Ink Out light is off.

Note:

If the Ink Out light is flashing or on, you cannot clean the print head.

Hold down the Cleaning button for 3 seconds.

The printer starts cleaning the print head and the Operate light begins flashing. Print head cleaning takes about 30 seconds to complete.

Caution:

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

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

If print quality has not improved after repeating this procedure four or five times, turn the printer off and leave it alone overnight. Then, clean the heads 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 Ink Cartridges.

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

Note:

To maintain print quality, we recommend turning on the printer for at least 1 minute every month.

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