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Cleaning the Print Head 17
Cleaning the Print Head
If print quality has declined and the nozzle check pattern indicates clogged nozzles, you
can clean the print head. Print head cleaning uses ink, so clean it only if necessary.
Note: You cannot clean the print head if an ink cartridge is expended, and may not be
able to clean it when a cartridge is low. You must replace the cartridge first (see
page 19).
1. Load letter- or A4-size paper in the sheet feeder.
2. Press
if necessary and select F Setup.
3. Use the arrow buttons to select
Maintenance and press OK, then select Head
Cleaning
and press OK.
4. Press
x to start cleaning.
Cleaning takes several minutes. When it’s finished, you see a message on the LCD
screen.
Caution: Never turn off the printer during head cleaning or you may damage it.
5. Select Nozzle Check and press OK, then press x to verify that the print head is clean.
6. If there are still gaps or lines, or the test patterns are faint, run another cleaning cycle
and check the nozzles again.
Note: If you don’t see any improvement after cleaning the print head four times, turn
off the product and wait at least six hours to let any dried ink soften. Then try cleaning
the print head again. If quality does not improve, one of the ink cartridges may need to
be replaced. If that doesn’t help, contact Epson as described on page 25.
If you do not use your EPSON product often, it is a good idea to print a few pages at
least once a month to maintain good print quality.
Checking Ink Levels
If an ink cartridge is expended, you see a message on your
printer’s LCD screen:
Note: Printing stops when an ink cartridge is expended. If a
color cartridge is expended, you may be able to continue
printing temporarily with black ink; see the online
User’s Guide for more information. If the black cartridge is
expended, you must replace it to continue printing.
You can check ink cartridge levels by pressing if necessary and selecting F Setup, then
pressing
OK. The ink levels displayed are approximate.