How to Fix a Clogged Epson Stylus Pro 7890 Printhead

How to Fix a Clogged Epson Stylus Pro 7890 Printhead

I have an Epson Stylus Pro 7890 with a stubbornly clogged nozzle. I neglected it and let it sit for too long without running any prints or cleanings. I've soaked it many times with the Original Windex and Rubbing Alcohol mixture, but it just made a mess. I'm about ready to give up, but a friend recommended I check with you first. Do you have anything that might help?

Thanks in advance!

Answer

Thank you for reaching out to us at BCH Technologies. We appreciate your engagement and support, especially regarding our YouTube channel BCH Technologies. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us enhance our technical expertise.

To address your issue with the Epson Stylus Pro 7890 clogged nozzle, let's delve into the causes and solutions in detail. Most Epson printers, including your model, use a permanent printhead, known for its superior quality and durability compared to one-time-use printheads. However, this permanent printhead can pose significant problems when it becomes clogged.

Understanding the Causes of Clogging

Epson printers are prone to three main types of clogs:

1. Clogs Caused by Debris, Fibers, and Foreign Objects
2. Clogs Caused by Dried Inks
3. Clogs Caused by Air Bubbles

Among these, air bubbles are the most common cause. Air bubbles can form when you switch to a new ink, change a cartridge, or due to room temperature fluctuations. They can also appear without any apparent reason.

Why Epson Cartridges Seem Less Likely to Clog

Epson cartridges are designed with a built-in damper that forces ink to flow in one direction—from the cartridge to the damper, and then from the damper to the printhead. This design helps minimize air bubbles. However, if you use a cartridge until it runs out of ink, the damper can fill with air, leading to clogs when the cartridge is refilled. We recommend using a syringe to remove air from the cartridge's ink outlet after each refill to prevent this issue.

Step-by-Step Unclogging Methods

Prevention

The best way to deal with clogs is to prevent them from happening:

• Avoid Depleting Ink: Never let your ink run completely dry. This can fill the printhead and cartridge with air, causing clogs.
• Add Wetter Solution: Add a drop (1 ml) of Wetter Solution to every 100 ml of ink to prevent it from drying.

Built-In Cleaning Function

Epson printers have a powerful built-in cleaning function that many users underestimate. Here's how to utilize it effectively:

1. Run the built-in "clean printhead" function three times.
2. Return to the printer's home screen, then back to the maintenance screen, and run three more cleanings.
3. Wait 12 hours and repeat the process (3+3) before moving on to other methods if necessary.

Cleaning the Waste Ink Pads

1. Turn on the printer to unlock the printhead.
2. Unplug the power cord before the printhead locks again, allowing you to move the printhead freely.
3. Use a paper towel to soak up excess waste ink from the exposed waste ink pad, then power the printer back on.

Positive Pressure Methods

1. Cartridge Method: Unplug the refill hole or peel off the sealing tape to create slight positive pressure, pushing air bubbles out.
2. Titration or Waterfall Method: Use ink tubes to generate positive pressure, letting gravity help dissolve clogs.

Wet Towel Method

1. Unplug the printer while the printhead is unlocked.
2. Place a wet paper towel soaked with hot water or cleaning solutions in the middle of the printer.
3. Slide the printhead over the towel and let it sit for a few hours to soften dried ink.

Printhead Flushing with Syringe

Use an unclogging syringe to push cleaning liquid through the ink intake. This method is more aggressive and can flood the waste ink pad, so follow up with a dry paper towel to soak up excess ink.

Professional Cleaning

If all else fails, professional cleaning might be necessary. This involves soaking the printhead in cleaning solutions, using a high-pressure steamer, and an ultrasonic cleaner to remove clogs and debris. This process should be done by professionals, as there's a risk of damaging the printhead.

Recommended Cleaning Solutions

At BCH Technologies, we offer various cleaning solutions tailored for different types of inks:

• Clear Cleaning Solution: Suitable for both dye and pigment inks.
• Green Cleaning Solution: Ideal for dye, pigment, and sublimation inks.
• Red Cleaning Solution: Our strongest solution, suitable for severe clogs in dye, pigment, and sublimation inks.
• Premium Cleaning Solutions for DTF Inks - MaxStrength™: Designed for white ink clogs in DTF/DTG inks.

For more details on cleaning solutions and methods, please visit our blog on How to Fix Blocked or Clogged Epson Printhead Nozzles.

Conclusion

Addressing printer issues can be complex due to the hands-on nature of the problems. For instance, resolving a simple clog might involve advice on unclogging procedures. However, if the printer remained inactive during downtime, a comprehensive service for the ink system could be necessary. Situations like a "paper jam" can arise from hundreds of potential causes, and solving such an issue has become something of an in-office jest. So, we're not able to provide remote troubleshooting, suggestions, or support for printer repairs. We offer an in-person evaluation and repair service via our local diagnostic facility. Given the high demand, we operate on a first-come, first-served basis. So, it might take a few weeks before we can get your printer to drop it off or mail it to us. Our services are structured to repair either a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed if you opt for mail-in or local drop-off services. However, we acknowledge that our rates aren't the most economical. Thus, we highly recommend that you resort to self-help via online research. You can start by checking out YouTube or visiting our YouTube channel's homepage. Look for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. I receive dozens of queries every day asking about videos for specific topics. Having created videos over the past nine years, it's challenging to remember every single one. Therefore, using YouTube's search function would be most efficient. Plus, YouTube might suggest relevant videos from other channels that could assist you.

Thank you once again for reaching out to us. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us.