How to Unclog Two Nozzles on an Epson DX5 Printhead: Step-by-Step Solutions

Question:

I have a Procolored R2000 printer with an Epson Inkjet DX5 printhead. Two of the nozzles are clogged, and I need help unclogging them. Please do so.

Answer:

Cleaning Nozzles on an Epson DX5 Printhead

The Epson DX5 printheads are very accurate, however, they also tend to clog easily when using third-party & DTF inks. Most cleaning methods can damage them, especially when two nozzles are clogged. Here are some approaches to try:

Perform the Printer’s Cleaning Cycle

Run a basic print head cleaning cycle into your printer's menu.

Then run a nozzle check to see if there’s any improvement.

Cleaning too much and using intense clean cycles will only flood the printhead and worsen the clog (source).

Inject Ink Flow With a Syringe

The DX5 printhead uses vacuum pressure to achieve ink flow. I’m going to give you this technique you can try:

Park the Printhead on the Capping Station: Power off the printer to park the printhead on the capping station.

Draw air through using a syringe on the waste tube: Connect a syringe and slowly draw in 1.5 to 2ml of air through the waste line.

The nozzles are likely open if you feel slight resistance and hear the dampers crinkle.

In some cases, when only air comes through, this may also indicate that the printhead is not sealing correctly with its capping station or that there is a leak in the capping station itself.

Manually Flush 

If the nozzles are still clogged, manually flush them with a DX5-safe solution:

And don't push liquid through the printhead; too much pressure can damage the internal membranes.

Instead, put a few drops of cleaning solution on top of the cap and let the printhead soak for a few hours or overnight.

Run a cleaning cycle after soaking and see if it helps at all.

Inspect Dampers and Ink Flow

Dampers are also common culprits for getting clogged as they can restrict ink flow to the printhead.

Check the dampers for air bubbles or insufficient ink flow — replace them if needed.

Check that the nozzle performance is not affected by over or under pressurising your ink supply system.

Check for Capping Station and Wiper Blade

If you have a dirty or malfunctioning capping station, the printer may not form an adequate seal, causing ink to dry in the printhead:

Inspect the wiper blade for excessive dried ink, then clean it with a lint-free cloth soaked in isopropyl alcohol or a mild cleaning solution.

Check that the capping station is working correctly and is not the problem.

When All Else Fails: Ultrasonic Cleaning

If all else fails, an ultrasonic cleaner with some gentle cleaning solution may help free stuck clogs. But use as a last resort, as that risks damaging the printhead.)

Conclusion and Further Assistance

Because multiple contributing factors can lead to printhead clogs, they can be challenging to address. Note: We cannot perform remote troubleshooting nor support printer repair. We don't perform in-field printer repair (we're not equipped for that), but we do offer a physical printer repair service at BCH Technologies (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Since our repair work is also done on a first-come, first-served basis, there might be a delay before we can look at your printer.

Always try a few various do-it-yourself tips for fixing, and check out our BCH Technologies YouTube channel BCH Technologies (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) for extra solutions! Use the search icon next to "About" to scour videos on unclogging DX5 printheads or similar topics. YouTube might also recommend other related videos by different creators to help you further.

I hope this guide helps. Thank you for your continued support, and Godspeed with your printer. If you find a solution that works, please share your findings!