Why Is My Printer Drawing Air Into the Dampers After Priming? Causes and Fixes

Question:
I manually cleaned my printer, but now the ink won’t flow into the dampers. Even after priming, I keep getting air in the lines. I’m at a loss for what else to try, and I can’t afford to take it in for service. How can I fix this myself?

Answer:

Based on your description, the main issue sounds like air is being introduced into the ink path instead of the dampers holding prime. This usually happens when there is a gap or leak around the printhead’s ink intake, preventing a proper seal. Below are some detailed steps and considerations to help you troubleshoot:

1. Check for Seal Gaps at the Ink Intake

After priming, if you notice that air is reintroduced quickly, it likely means the cartridge or damper seal at the printhead isn’t tight. A poor seal lets air slip back into the system. In such cases, installing small washers around the intake can help. You can find compatible ET-8550 washers at bchtechnologies.com (https://bchtechnologies.com).

2. Use the “Park and Prime” Method

To properly seat the printhead:

• Turn the printer on and allow the printhead to naturally park itself on the capping station. This ensures correct alignment and sealing.

• Once parked, connect a syringe and tubing to the printer’s waste line.

• Gently draw about 1.5 ml of air. At this point, you should feel mild resistance. If you only draw air with no resistance, the printhead is either misaligned or there is a leak at the capping station.

• If the syringe locks up and won’t draw, the capping station may be clogged and will need to be cleaned or replaced.

3. Watching for Damper Membrane Movement

When you’re pulling with the syringe, listen closely—if the damper’s membrane crinkles, this indicates the nozzles are open and ink should begin to flow. Continue gently until you reach the 2 ml mark, then hold steady for about 10 seconds before releasing. This helps clear air pockets and primes the dampers fully.

4. Account for DTF Ink Viscosity

If you’re using DTF (Direct to Film) ink, remember that it is thicker than standard dye or pigment ink. This means your printhead may need extra assistance during priming. Be patient and avoid drawing too forcefully, as this can damage the nozzles or rupture seals.

5. Follow With Gentle Cleaning Cycles

Once you’ve completed the priming process, use the printer’s built-in cleaning cycle to finish the preparation. Avoid running back-to-back strong cleanings—give the printer at least 12 hours to rest between heavy cycles. Over-cleaning risks overheating or burning out the nozzles.

Addressing printer issues can be complex since many of these problems are hands-on. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to provide remote repair or troubleshooting beyond general suggestions. However, we do offer an in-person printer repair service (https://bchtechnologies.com/printer-repair-service). Please note that it operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and due to high demand, it may take a few weeks before we can accept your printer. Our service can repair entire printers or specific parts, depending on what’s needed. That said, we recognize our rates may not always be the most affordable, which is why we strongly encourage self-help using resources like our YouTube channel (https://youtube.com/@bchtechnologies). For best results, use the search function on the channel to find the exact topics you need—we’ve created hundreds of videos over nine years, and YouTube may also recommend related tutorials from other helpful creators.

Thank you again for your question and for trusting BCH Technologies. Your support means a lot, and we’ll continue to do our best to provide resources that help you troubleshoot and succeed with your printer projects.