Why is My Epson ET 2850 not Printing? DIY Solution
Is your Epson ET 2850 not printing in good quality? If it isn’t, you might be dealing with a clogged printhead. But, no need to worry because this issue can be fixed with a simple printhead cleanup. The best part is that with the right cleaning tools, you can do everything yourself.
By the end of this article, you’ll know all the cleaning steps to fix the Epson 2850 not printing issue.
What is a Printhead?
A printhead is the component of a printer responsible for releasing ink onto the paper. It is fixed with multiple nozzles, each responsible for releasing a different color. When you’re working on the Epson ET 2850 not printing problem, you’ll see that this model has 4 nozzles. These release 4 colors: black, yellow, magenta, and cyan.
If the printer isn’t used regularly, a few or sometimes all of these nozzles can become clogged with dried ink.
Signs Your Printer’s Printhead Needs Cleaning and What You’ll Need
Not sure if your Epson ET 2850 not printing because of the printhead? We have some signs you can look out for to confirm your doubts. Your printhead is due for a clean-up if the printer is:
Printing blank pages.
Not printing a certain color, e.g., Epson ET 2850 not printing black.
Causing a choppy or streaky print.
Generally printing in bad quality.
Once you’re sure that the printhead is clogged, you’ll need an Epson ET 2850 cleaning kit for a seamless fix. This user-friendly kit consists of:
A 20 ml syringe with 2 nozzle connectors, 2 small L-shaped connectors, a needle, and a set of gloves.
1 plastic tubing extension.
100ml of cleaning solution fluid.
How to Clean The Printhead if Epson ET 2850 not Printing?
Now let’s discuss what you have to do if your Epson ET 2850 not printing because of a blocked printhead:
Nozzle Check and Unlocking the Printhead
First, go to the maintenance settings and perform a nozzle check. This will print a page so you can identify which color nozzle isn’t working properly. If the page is blank, you’ll have to clean all the nozzles. After the check is done, run it again, but this time, unplug the printer as soon as the printhead starts moving.
Open Up the Printer
Next, open up the printer like we’ve done in this video on Epson ET 2850 not printing fix. Move the printhead to one side and remove the paper that was mid-print when you unplugged. Replace it with a folded paper towel that will catch the excess ink released during the clean-up.
Remove the Cartridges
In this step, unscrew the plastic top which covers the makeshift cartridges and remove it. Disconnect all the cartridges from their nozzle openings using their push-in tabs. Keep in mind it’s important to remove all of them even if the Epson ET 2850 not printing just because of one.
Clean the Nozzles
Now, take the syringe from the cleaning kit and attach the end of the extended tube to the clogged nozzle. Push in 10 ml of solution to break down the clog and throw it out onto the towel. If you feel some nozzles require more cleaning, then push in more fluid. Just keep replacing the paper towel for every 10 ml of fluid.
Reassemble the Printer
Once the paper towel isn’t showing any colored ink, the cleaning is complete. Take it out and reassemble the printer. Do not test the print quality at that very moment. Instead, let the printer sit for 12 hours just in case any internal components have fluid traces and need to dry.
Final Nozzle Check
After the drying period is over, fill up the ink tanks and select the Epson ET 2850 power cleaning setting. This will take 10-15 minutes to push the inks into the printhead. After the power cleaning is done, another nozzle check is performed to ensure the print quality is fixed.
Bonus Tip:
If you feel resistance pushing the cleaning fluid into the nozzle, heat it up in the microwave.
Conclusion
So, as you can see, an Epson ET 2850 not printing problem is pretty easy to fix. All you need to do is unclog the machine’s printhead, and our Cleaning Kit can ease the process for you.
If you need more guidance on how to use the kit, feel free to contact us at Best Printers. We’re dedicated to helping thousands of people with their printer repair problems to save them from unnecessary repair expenses.
