Why Is My Epson ET-2750 Ink Tank Collapsing When Refilling? Troubleshooting a Blocked Breather Hole

Question:
I’m having trouble refilling the black ink tank on my Epson ET-2750. When I try to pull ink through the system, it seems like the breather hole is plugged—not the refill port. The tank starts to collapse inward as I draw ink out. It only happens with the black tank. What’s going on, and how can I fix it?

Answer:
Thank you so much for reaching out to us—and I sincerely apologize for the delay in getting back to you. We understand that printer issues, especially when dealing with ink flow, are time-sensitive and frustrating. At BCH Technologies, we always aim to respond thoughtfully and specifically to every question. Your support, especially through our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies), means a lot to us. Your feedback helps us continue building better content and improving our technical knowledge.

You’ve done a great job diagnosing the issue already. The symptom you described—your black ink tank collapsing when ink is being drawn—is almost certainly caused by a blocked or sealed breather hole, just as you suspected.

🧠 How the Ink Flow System Works

Each Epson EcoTank reservoir, including those on the ET-2750, relies on two key pathways:

1. Refill Port – where you add ink.

2. Breather Hole (Air Vent) – allows air to enter the tank as ink leaves.

When the breather hole is blocked, the tank becomes a sealed container. As ink is pulled out—either by a priming cycle or manually using a syringe—it creates a vacuum. Since air can’t enter to replace the volume of ink being drawn, the tank starts to collapse inward due to negative pressure.

This is exactly why your black tank is squeezing together—it’s attempting to supply ink, but no air is getting in to equalize the pressure.

🔧 What You Can Do:

✅ 1. Locate and Inspect the Breather Hole

On the ET-2750, the breather is typically under a small rubber cap or located beside the refill port. Make sure it’s not sealed shut by:

• A forgotten silicone plug

• Tape or sticker from shipping

• Dried ink or debris

✅ 2. Clear the Breather Hole

If you suspect it's clogged:

• Use a small pin or needle to gently open it up.

• Be very cautious not to puncture or damage any internal part—just gently clear any blockage.

✅ 3. Compare with Other Tanks

Open one of the color ink tanks and examine the structure of its refill port and breather area. Compare this with the black tank to make sure no pieces are missing, misaligned, or plugged.

✅ 4. Avoid Priming Until the Air Path Is Restored

Running a cleaning or priming cycle before fixing the vent issue will keep collapsing the tank—and potentially damage it. Make sure airflow is restored first.

📹 Finding a Related Video

While we don’t currently have a video specifically for the ET-2750, the refill and air venting mechanisms are nearly identical across most Epson EcoTank models. You can find relevant how-to videos by visiting our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies) and using the search icon next to the "About" tab. Just type in keywords like “EcoTank refill problem” or “breather hole troubleshooting.” With over 600 videos published, searching within the channel is often the fastest way to locate the most relevant content.

Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. 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 (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). 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. Our services are structured to repair either a whole printer or specific parts, with clear instructions on how to proceed. 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 (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). Look for specific videos using the search icon next to "About" on the right-hand side of the menu bar. YouTube may also suggest helpful videos from other channels.

Thanks again for contacting BCH Technologies. We’re glad to see you're hands-on and persistent—that’s half the battle. Let us know if you need help finding replacement parts or cleaning tools, and we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction!