Signs Your Printhead Needs Cleaning — Not Replacing
If your printer is acting up, your first instinct might be to replace the printhead — especially if you’re on a tight deadline or running commercial jobs. But in most cases, a clogged or misfiring printhead can be cleaned and recovered for a fraction of the cost.
Here are 5 signs your printhead just needs a professional clean — not a full replacement.
1. 🟡 Missing Nozzles in Test Prints
If you’re seeing gaps, broken lines, or colours not firing in your nozzle check:
✅ That’s a classic sign of internal ink buildup or partial blockage.
💡 If just a few nozzles are out — even after head cleans — it can usually be recovered with ultrasonic and chemical cleaning.
2. 🟠 Faded or Uneven Colour Output
Do certain colours look faded, dull, or partially missing?
This could indicate:
Ink starvation
Dried residue in one or more channels
Inconsistent ink flow
🧽 A targeted printhead clean can restore even pressure and nozzle firing — no new parts needed.
3. 🔄 You’ve Tried 2–3 Head Cleans with No Results
Software cleaning cycles can only go so far. If you’ve run 2–3 cleans and the issue persists:
🚫 Don’t keep running them — you risk:
Flooding the printhead
Wasting ink
Overheating the nozzles
✅ Send it for professional evaluation instead.
4. 🔬 You’re Using a Model Known to Be Cleanable
At Printhead Tech, we specialize in:
Epson i3200, i1600, 4720
Epson DX5 / DX6 / DX7
Epson XP600
Brother GXT
🧠 These heads are notoriously expensive to replace — but respond well to ultrasonic cleaning when handled correctly.
5. 💰 Replacement Costs Just Don’t Make Sense
If your printer uses one of these models, here’s what a new part could cost you:
| Model | AUD Replacement |
|---|---|
| XP600 | $750 – $1100 |
| i3200 | $1600 – $2100 |
| DX6 | $3200 – $3900 |
| Brother GXT | $2600 – $3600 |
🧪 Our cleaning costs start at just $320 AUD — and we only charge if it works.
🛠 Bonus: Free Evaluation, No Risk
When you send in your printhead to Printhead Tech, you get:
A full nozzle check & health report
Honest assessment: cleanable or not
Fixed cost:
1x = $320
2x = $560
3x = $830
4x = $1090
No fix? No charge. (Just return postage)
✅ When to Clean — Not Replace
| If You See… | Try Cleaning First |
|---|---|
| Missing nozzles | ✅ |
| Banding or streaks | ✅ |
| Ink flow looks uneven or intermittent | ✅ |
| Test pattern is 60–90% OK | ✅ |
| Physical damage or error code | ❌ Replacement required |
📦 Ready to Save Your Printhead?
Send it in for a free evaluation. We’ll clean it — or tell you honestly if it’s beyond saving.
👉 Request Your Free Evaluation
👉 See Our Cleaning Service Details
