ET-2850 Series L4260 Series

User's Guide

> Maintaining the Printer > Improving Print, Copy, and Scan Quality > Checking and Cleaning the Print Head

Checking and Cleaning the Print Head

If the nozzles are clogged, the printouts become faint, there is visible banding, or unexpected colors appear. If the nozzles are severely clogged, a blank sheet will be printed. When print quality has declined, first use the nozzle check feature to check if the nozzles are clogged. If the nozzles are clogged, clean the print head.

Important:

  • Do not open the scanner unit or turn off the printer during head cleaning. If the head cleaning is incomplete, you may not be able to print.

  • Head cleaning consumes ink and should not be performed more than necessary.

  • When ink is low, you may not be able to clean the print head.

  • If print quality has not improved after repeating nozzle check and head cleaning 3 times, wait for at least 12 hours without printing, and then run the nozzle check again and repeat the head cleaning if necessary. We recommend turning off the printer by using the button. If print quality has still not improved, run Power Cleaning.

  • To prevent the print head from drying out, do not unplug the printer while the power is on.

You can check and clean the print head by using the printer's control panel.

  1. Select Maintenance on the printer's control panel.

    To select an item, use the buttons, and then press the OK button.

  2. Select Nozzle Check.

  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to load paper and print the nozzle check pattern.

  4. Check the printed pattern to see if the print head nozzles are clogged.

    • A:
      All lines are printed. Select No. No further steps are needed.
    • B or close to B
      Some nozzles are clogged. Select Yes, and then follow the on-screen instructions to clean the print head.
      When cleaning is finished, the nozzle check pattern is printed automatically.
    • C or close to C
      If most lines are missing or not printed, this indicates most nozzles are clogged. Select No to exit the nozzle check feature, and then run Power Cleaning. For details, see "Related information" below.

  5. Repeat cleaning and printing the pattern until all lines are printed completely.

Important:

If print quality has not improved after repeating nozzle check and head cleaning 3 times, wait for at least 12 hours without printing, and then run the nozzle check again and repeat the head cleaning if necessary. We recommend turning off the printer by using the button. If print quality has still not improved, run Power Cleaning.

Note:

You can also check and clean the print head from the printer driver.

  • Windows

    Click Print Head Nozzle Check on the Maintenance tab.

  • Mac OS

    Apple menu > System Preferences > Printers & Scanners (or Print & Scan, Print & Fax) > Epson(XXXX) > Options & Supplies > Utility > Open Printer Utility > Print Head Nozzle Check

Related Information