Is It Worth Cleaning or Replacing a Printhead? (AU/NZ Guide)
If your printer is producing faint, streaky, or blank prints, your printhead may be clogged or misfiring. For many businesses, this triggers one big question:
“Should I clean the printhead or replace it?”
In this article, we break down the real costs of replacement vs cleaning, and explain how Printhead Tech helps Australian and New Zealand businesses save thousands every year.
🧠 Why Printheads Clog
Printheads are precision components that push microscopic droplets of ink through nozzles. Even minor clogs, dried ink, or air bubbles can cause:
- Banding or missing nozzles
- Colour distortion
- Print dropout or blank pages
💸 Real Replacement Costs (AUD)
Before you rush to buy a new printhead, here’s what it might cost to replace:
| Model | OEM Replacement (AUD) |
| Epson i3200 | $1600 – $2100 |
| Epson 4720 | $1500 – $2000 |
| Epson i1600 | $995 – $1860 |
| Epson DX5 | $1845 – $2200 |
| Epson DX6 | $3200 – $3900 |
| Epson DX7 | $1450 – $1900 |
| Epson XP600 | $750 – $1100 |
| Brother GXT | $2600 – $3600 |
For many printers, that’s more than the machine is worth — or a full month’s income.
🧪 The Cleaning Alternative
Printhead Tech offers professional ultrasonic printhead cleaning that can restore nozzle performance for a fraction of the cost of replacement.
✅ Fixed Prices (AUD):
- 1x printhead: $320
- 2x printhead: $560
- 3x printhead: $830
- 4x printhead: $1090
- 4+ units: POA
🧾 What You Get:
- Free printhead evaluation
- Detailed health report
- Honest outcome (cleanable or not)
- No fix, no charge (just return postage)
🔬 When Is Cleaning Worth It?
Choose cleaning if:
- Your printhead is not physically damaged
- Nozzles are missing or firing inconsistently
- You’re using a supported model (see below)
🧼 Printheads We Clean
- Epson i3200
- Epson 4720
- Epson i1600
- Epson DX5 / DX6 / DX7
- Epson XP600
- Brother GXT
These are common in DTG, eco-solvent, UV, and textile printers.
👨🔧 Beyond Cleaning: We Can Help With
- Preventative maintenance plans
- Connecting you with expert technicians
- Manufacturer outreach or escalation
- Consultancy for common print quality problems
🧠 Real-World Result: $2000 Saved
One client sent in a clogged DX5 scheduled for replacement. We restored it to 93% nozzle health — avoiding a $2000 part order and two weeks of downtime.
“That $320 saved us more than just money. It kept us running.” — Commercial DTG Operator, VIC
✅ Final Verdict
Cleaning is worth it if:
- Your printhead is on our service list
- It’s clogged, not cracked
- You want same-week turnaround
- You want to avoid waste, downtime, and huge costs
