How to change EPSON ink cartridges

Epson offers a wide range of different models designed to meet your business or personal printing needs. They offer printers with all-in-one capabilities, photo quality and high-speed laser in monochrome and color. Epson printers are all for the most part diverse in that no two models are designed to operate in the same way, although similar product ranges share components designed to encourage their intended use. The same is true of Epson ink cartridges, which vary in capacity and ink composition, although they are generally the same size and shape: thin, tall and rectangular. Installing new printer cartridges in Epson printers is fairly straightforward. I’ll discuss the process using the Epson Workforce WF-3640 printer, which uses the popular Epson 27XL ink cartridge, as an example.

A. Checking ink levels

If your printer doesn’t prompt you to replace cartridges and you want to know which cartridges need replacing, you can check your printer’s ink levels as follows:

1. Press the Home button (HOME icon).
2. Go to Configuration, then press the OK button.
3. You’ll see ink levels as the first option, so simply press the OK button .
4. You can now see your printer’s ink levels on the LCD screen.

B. Replacing a remanufactured Epson cartridge

Reputable remanufactured and compatible cartridges come with chips designed to mimic those of original brand cartridges to a T. In most cases, changing your existing Epson ink cartridge for a remanufactured or compatible one involves the same process as above, and your cartridge will be recognized without publication. Occasionally, you’ll encounter connectivity issues that can usually be resolved in a few simple steps. The most common error message you’ll see when installing a compatible Epson cartridge is one that says “Low” or “Empty”, as if you hadn’t simply installed a new, full cartridge. This message often appears when you install a new brand cartridge, sometimes because your printer doesn’t read the new chip on the cartridge. Reading errors will occur when there’s still ink on the sensor, as well as when the printer needs to be “reset”. Here’s how to proceed:

1. Keep your spare cartridges ready. Don’t throw away your old ones, unless you already have your replacement cartridges. This will prevent the printhead nozzles from drying out. And don’t open the new ink cartridges until you’re ready to install them.
2. Switch on your printer. You’ll see a notification on your printer’s LCD screen once an ink cartridge has run out. Select the cartridges to be replaced, press OK, then select Replace now.
3. Lift the scanner, but make sure you don’t use your hand to move the print head. Also make sure you don’t touch the white ribbon cable inside the printer.
4. Press down on the Epson Expression premium XP 510 ink cartridge, then lift it out.
5. Gently shake your new cartridge pack about four or five times before opening it. Once finished, open it to remove the cartridge.
6. Then remove the yellow ribbon from the side.
7. Insert the replacement cartridge into the holder, then push it firmly downwards. You can tell if it’s secure if you hear a click.
8. Lower the scanner, then press Start. The printhead will start to move to its original position and the ink will begin to load. This often takes up to 4 minutes, after which you’ll see the ink cartridge replacement screen.
9. In the event of an incorrectly installed cartridge, lift the scanner and press the new cartridge in again until it clicks into place. Repeat the previous step.

C. Filling EcoTank ink

One technology that sets Epson apart from the competition is EcoTank. Available for several printer models, EcoTank printers draw ink from refillable tanks instead of replaceable cartridges. They are designed to print less expensively than similar cartridge printer models, and create less waste from used cartridges (hence the “Eco-“). Filling the tank is simple, but there are a few procedures and precautions you need to know before you start:

• As mentioned above, avoid contact with your skin. If you get ink on your hands, wash thoroughly with soap and water. If ink gets into your eyes, rinse them out with cold water. If ink gets into your mouth, spit it out and consult a health care professional.
• Epson does not recommend using ink that is not designed for your particular printer model. While this recommendation is intended to exclude third-party ink brands, I suggest confirming that the ink you’re using is the right choice for an inkjet printer. Using ink designed for other types of printing will clog your printhead and give you poor print results.
• Filling the EcoTank on an Epson Workforce ET 4500 is quick and easy. Here’s how to get started:

1. Wear disposable gloves to avoid staining your hands. Keep damp paper towels handy and, in the event of a spill, quickly wipe up the ink to avoid permanent damage. If ink comes into contact with your clothes, it may not come out, no matter how carefully you wash them.
2. Place a sheet of paper under your printer to prevent ink splashes or spills from spilling onto your table or the floor.
3. Open the ink tank lid. Each ink fountain has a cap that opens the well. Remove the cap and place it in the holder on the EcoTank. DO NOT put it on your table (or, worse still, on your pants), as there may be ink on it.
4. Remove the tip from your new ink bottle and set it aside. Don’t lose sight of it, though – you can replace it to save your leftover ink for later. If your ink bottle is sealed under the cap, very carefully remove the cap and remove the plastic seal. Replace the cap and you’re ready to start filling.
5. Fill the ink tank for each color up to the top line of the ink tank. On the ET 4500, the colors go from left to right Cyan > Magenta > Yellow > Black.
6. Replace the cap on your ink bottle to store any remaining ink. Put the bottle in a cool, dark place and leave it upright.
7. Replace the cap on the ink reservoir and repeat for each color as required.
8. Close the lid and you’re ready to print again!

Some EcoTank models use ink supply packs rather than individual tanks, like the R4640 model. This variety of bulk ink solutions creates minimal waste and reduces the risk of catastrophic ink spills. Here’s how to install supply packs:

1. When your ink pack is low or empty, a notification will appear on your LCD screen indicating which ones need to be replaced. Individual ink colors have their own supply bags.
2. Open the side compartment to reveal the ink packs. Press the handle of the ink bag you are replacing and it will pop out.
3. Grasp the handle and lift the bag upwards to remove it from the ink box.
4. Unpack the new ink pack and remove all protective materials. Make sure not to touch the green chip on the handle area. Shake the ink pack horizontally from side to side about twenty times. Do not remove labels or seals, as ink may leak out.
5. Insert the pack into the case, ensuring that the bottom of the ink bag fits into the base.
6. Slide the handle of the ink cartridge onto the holder. Press the handle down until it clicks into place.
7. Press “Check” on the LCD screen to ensure that the ink packs are correctly installed.
8. Close the ink box and you’re ready to print!

D. How to save more and print more with an Epson printer

If you’ve browsed through customer reviews of Epson printers, you’ll notice that most of them say the same thing: that Epson printers consume ink quickly and that Epson ink is expensive. While ink cartridges for new Epson models have a lower price, they also have a low number of pages per cartridge, making the cost per page even higher than average. So, what’s a solution to this dilemma?

Consumers have switched to compatibles more recently because of the price difference (up to 77% cheaper than original Epson cartridge prices) and because of the quality of these alternative cartridges. The alternative ink cartridge industry has been around for over a decade, and has dramatically improved its testing processes to now guarantee compatible cartridges that can deliver print output virtually indistinguishable from the original.

We hope we’ve answered your questions about installing/replacing new Epson ink cartridges. Browse our blog for more super informative articles on how to take care of your ink cartridges.