Q: There are frequently gaps/streaks in the printouts from my inkjet printer – is there any way to prevent this?

A: Clogging in your print cartridge’s heads causes the streaks, or missing lines, in your printout. The most common reason for printer clogging is failing to turn the unit off when it is not in use. Most inkjet printers will ‘park’ the heads and cap them at power down so that the ink is less prone to drying when the equipment is sitting idle.

Another common reason for clogging is the use of substandard and/or refillable ink cartridges. Yes, the generic ink cartridges you find at your local office supply depot are cheaper than the brand name ones, but that’s because the ink they contain is cheaper, too, AND more prone to clogging. Keep in mind that the brand name ink is formulated specifically for the print heads in that cartridge, and will cause you the least grief over the long run.

Inkjet cartridge refill kits are even more problematic. Not only do these usually contain substandard ink, but also you are putting it into an old cartridge that is now past its design life. The print heads in practically all inkjet cartridges are engineered to have about the same life as the toner supply – expect the heads to fail soon after the toner runs out. Using refilled cartridges with failing print heads and cheap ink is a recipe for disaster. If the cost of refills is a problem, look into purchasing a high-quality continuous ink system, which can reduce your operating costs by up to ninety percent over the long run.

Some brands, particularly Epson, are more prone to clogging than others. The reason for this is that most home and small office inkjet printers use thermal print heads — these use microscopic heating elements to force a bubble of ink onto the print surface, while Epson printers exclusively use piezoelectric print heads. The crystals in piezoelectric heads bend when current is applied, and this forces a drop of ink onto the print surface. Epson’s use of piezoelectric print heads allows them to use a wider variety of inks than is possible with thermal head printers. This trade off allows Epson to create higher quality prints, but your Epson printer will suffer clogging problems if it is not used at least several times a week.

Most clogging problems can be fixed by running your printer’s head cleaning utility. If the streaks remain in a printout after several head cleanings, don’t throw the ink cartridge  out, reach for some Windex and Q-tips instead. Removing the cartridge from the printer and dabbing gently at the ink port with a Windex-moistened Q-tip will remove monster clog problems ninety-nine percent of the time.

So remember, turn your printer off when you’re not using it, stick with brand name cartridges, avoid refill kits, and you should be on your way to streak free printing.

Sean McCormick
A+, Network+, Linux+, CTT+, I-Net+
MCSA, MCSE, LPIC1