How To Take Good Care of the Print Head

Print heads are very expensive. Everybody knows that but HOW to take care of the print heads, many may ask. It's actually very simple. Just ensure that there is lubrication to prevent burnt out or clogging of print heads. Lubrication in this case refers to the ink. So, just make sure you keep refilling the cartridges with ink. Do not leave any cartridge empty.

For that reason, many switch from compatible (sponge in it usually prevents the ink from flowing out consistently causing air to move in and eventually damage the printhead) to spongeless refillable cartridge.

If your printer's print head does clog, this refillable cartridge can be used as a MAINTENANCE KIT to aid the cleaning process! First of all, you have to perform a nozzle check to find out which colour cartridge is clogged. For example, yellow ink doesn't come out because of a clog in the yellow cartridge. So, what you have to do is to take the yellow ink out from the yellow cartridge using a syringe and put it back into the yellow ink bottle. Then, put in a special cleaning chemical into the cartridge. Clean the print head once and leave it overnight. Then, clean the head again and leave it for another day. After 2 - 3 days of head cleaning, the clog should be cleared. Perform another nozzle check to confirm that there is no more clogs.

This method can clean minor clogs. When the clog is cleared, you can then throw the cleaning chemical away and put back the ink and start printing again! If the clog fails to clear, bring your printer to:

Berjaya Technology at 2-69 & 70, Low Yat Plaza, KL.

Special cleaning chemical can be ordered through phone:
012 - 3322 120 (Mr. Tay) or 03 - 9019 5803 (Office)

Nozzle Check and Head Cleaning

These are the 2 important features for maintenance of your printer.

Nozzle Check

If your printouts are unexpectedly faint or have some missing dots or lines, it means that certain colour ink does not flow out nicely and consistantly. This is when you need to perform a nozzle check. If your nozzle pattern is good, then, your printouts will be good and nice as well. If your nozzle pattern breaks at certain parts, it means you need to clean the print head. Here's how to perform a nozzle check:

1. Click Start

2. Click Control Panel

3. Click Printers and Faxes

4. Right click your printer icon

5. Click Printing Preference

6. Click Maintenance

7. Click Nozzle Check

8. Click Print

9. Click Finish (if the nozzle pattern is perfect) OR

10.Click Clean (if the nozzle pattern breaks at certain places)

The following is the sample of good nozzle pattern and a bad nozzle pattern:

Good nozzle pattern:



Bad nozzle pattern (Head Cleaning needed):





Head Cleaning

Head cleaning is required when the nozzle pattern is not perfect. Usually, this action is needed when you have printed a lot or you have taken out the cartridge for refilling or for other purposes. Here's how to perform a head cleaning:

1. Click Start

2. Click Control Panel

3. Click Printers and Faxes

4. Right click your printer icon

5. Click Printing Preference

6. Click Maintenance

7. Click Head Cleaning

8. Click Start

9. Click Print Nozzle Patterns (to check the ink flow after cleaning)

10.Click Print