Why Your Epson L1800 DTF Printer Won’t Print After Sitting Idle – Common Causes & What You Can Do

Customer Question:
I have an Epson L1800 DTF printer that hasn’t been used in two weeks, and now it won’t print anything. I need it fixed as soon as possible. I’m located in California, but I’m open to shipping it for repair. What can I do?

Answer:

Common Reasons Why the Epson L1800 Stops Printing After Inactivity

When a DTF printer, such as the L1800, is unused for an extended period—especially two weeks or more—it becomes highly susceptible to ink flow and clogging issues. DTF inks are pigmented and prone to drying more quickly than regular inks, particularly in environments without humidity control. Below are some specific causes and what you can consider doing:

1. Clogged Printhead Nozzles

The most likely culprit is dried ink inside the printhead nozzles. This is especially common with DTF white ink, which dries and settles more quickly than color inks. You might notice:

• Completely blank pages

• Faint or missing lines on the nozzle check pattern

In severe cases, this may lead to a challenging clog that standard cleanings won’t resolve. We regret to inform you that BCH Technologies does not repair or work on printheads, primarily because they require specialized ultrasonic or pressurized methods that often have low success rates unless performed by an OEM technician.

2. Clogged Dampers or Ink Lines

If your ink lines or dampers have dried ink, the printhead may not receive any ink. You can check this by pulling ink through the lines using a syringe. If there’s resistance or nothing comes through, the clog is likely in the damper or tubing.

Fix Suggestions:

• Replace the dampers

• Flush the ink lines with cleaning solution

• Try a manual prime using a syringe attached to the damper or line

3. Capping Station Blockage

The capping station may also dry out, preventing proper suction during cleaning cycles. This can lead to ineffective head cleaning and further clogging.

Fix Suggestions:

• Flush the capping station with warm distilled water

• Clean the rubber edges gently with a lint-free cloth and isopropyl alcohol

4. Ink Starvation or Air Bubbles

If you see some ink trying to print but it’s very light, air bubbles might be trapped in the ink lines.

Fix Suggestions:

• Perform a “prime” function or use a syringe to pull ink through until it flows steadily.

• Keep the ink tanks at a proper level and gently agitate the white ink before printing to avoid settling.

Important Note on Repairs
Addressing printer issues can be a complicated affair due to the hands-on nature of the problems. Therefore, we're unable 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. Therefore, it may take a few weeks before we can arrange for your printer to drop it off. Our services are structured to repair either the 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. 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 the most efficient approach. Additionally, YouTube may suggest relevant videos from other channels that can assist you.

Thank you again for reaching out and for your patience. We genuinely appreciate your support and hope you will be able to get your printer back in action soon.