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How to Fix a Clogged Sublimation Printer

 

This post may contain affiliate links, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.





(And How to Know When It’s Too Late)

If your converted sublimation printer is already showing missing colors, banding, or refusing to print at all, don’t panic just yet.

Some clogs can be cleared. Others can’t.
Knowing the difference can save you time, ink, and frustration—and help you decide when to stop before making things worse.

First: How Bad Is the Clog?

Before doing anything aggressive, run a nozzle check.

Light clog:

  • Faint banding

  • Partial color gaps

  • Some color still printing

 Often fixable

Moderate clog:

  • One color mostly missing

  • Heavy banding

  • Cleaning cycles only slightly help

Sometimes fixable

Severe clog:

  • One or more colors completely gone

  • No improvement after multiple cleanings

  • Printer sat unused for weeks or months

 Often permanent

Step 1: Use the Built-In Cleaning Cycle (Once or Twice Only)

Start with the least invasive method.

  1. Run one nozzle check

  2. Run one cleaning cycle

  3. Print a full-color test page

If improvement is visible, stop and print normally for a day or two.

 Do NOT run repeated cleaning cycles back-to-back. This can dry ink inside the head faster and worsen clogs.

Step 2: Let the Printer Rest

If cleaning helped a little but didn’t fully fix the issue:

  • Turn the printer off using the power button

  • Let it sit 8–12 hours

  • Turn it back on and print a color test

This allows ink to slowly rehydrate inside the nozzles.

This step alone resolves many moderate clogs.

Step 3: Print High-Ink Coverage Pages

Sometimes ink flow alone is what clears a clog.

Print:

  • Solid color blocks (CMYK)

  • High saturation images

  • Multiple copies in one session

This keeps ink moving through every channel.

Step 4: Gently Agitate the Ink (Safe Method)

If your printer has sat for a while:

  • Turn it off

  • Gently rock it side-to-side (do not shake)

  • Turn it back on and print a test page

This helps redistribute settled pigment in sublimation ink.

Step 5: What NOT to Do (This Ruins Printers)

Avoid these common “internet fixes”:

 Flushing with water
 Injecting cleaning fluid
 Syringes into ink lines
 Alcohol or solvents
Third-party cleaning kits not made for your printer

If you tried the steps above, and you still have no results then all bets are off the table and you may have to take extreme measures, but I will warn you now that most of the quick fix methods are last ditch efforts. 

When a Sublimation Printer Cannot Be Saved

A printer is likely beyond recovery if:

  • A color channel prints nothing at all

  • No improvement after rest and gentle cleaning

  • The printer sat idle for months

  • Aggressive cleaning was already attempted

At this point, continuing to troubleshoot usually costs more in ink and time than replacing the printer.

Why Replacement Is Sometimes the Smart Choice

This is the hard truth no one likes to say:

Converted sublimation printers are affordable because the print head is not user-replaceable.

If the clog is severe:

  • Replacement is often cheaper than repair

  • The printer can become a backup or parts donor

  • Prevention on the next printer matters more than recovery

The good news is that even with buying a Epson Ecotank twice, you will likely still be saving money compared to buying a standard sublimation printer like a sawgrass. 

Some affordable options are:

How to Prevent This From Happening Again

If you’re replacing a printer, or managed to clear the clog- then go read:
How to Keep a Converted Sublimation Printer From Clogging

That's a routine that can keep printers alive long-term.

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