How to Restart Your Printer After the New Year Holiday

After a long New Year holiday shutdown, turning your printer back on is not just about pressing the power button.
Whether you are using a UV printer, DTF printer, or DTG printer, proper startup procedures are essential to avoid printhead clogging, ink flow problems, or unexpected downtime.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to safely restart your printer after a long break and how to check for potential issues before production begins.

During long idle periods:

• Ink may settle or separate
• White ink may sediment
• Moisture levels may change
• Minor clogs may develop

A careful startup process helps protect your printhead, ink system, and electronic components, ensuring stable performance for the year ahead.

Before powering on your printer:

• Ensure room temperature is between 15–30°C (59–86°F)
• Maintain humidity around 40–60%
• Remove dust around the machine
• Check that power cables and connections are secure

Extreme temperature changes during holidays can affect ink viscosity and electronic components.

Before switching on:

• Gently shake or agitate white ink (especially for UV and DTF printers)
• Check ink levels
• Look for air bubbles in ink tubes
• Make sure ink bottles are properly sealed

For printers with a white ink circulation system, confirm it runs normally after startup.

Follow the correct sequence:

1. Turn on the main power supply
2. Power on the printer via the control panel
3. Allow the machine to initialize completely
4. Wait a few minutes before any operation

Do not rush into cleaning or printing immediately.

A nozzle check is the most important step after a long shutdown.

Look for:

• Missing lines
• Deflected lines
• Faded colors
• White ink gaps

If the nozzle test is perfect — you’re ready to print.
If not, proceed with light cleaning.

If minor clogging appears:

• Perform one standard head cleaning
• Wait 5–10 minutes
• Run another nozzle check

Avoid excessive cleaning cycles, as they:

• Waste ink
• Put pressure on the pump
• Shorten printhead lifespan

If severe clogging remains, contact technical support instead of forcing repeated cleaning.

After long downtime, inspect:

• Wiper blade condition
• Capping station seal
• Printhead surface
• Rails and carriage movement

For UV printers, ensure there is no hardened ink residue around the head or UV lamp area.

Before full production:

• Print a small test image
• Check color accuracy
• Check white ink density
• Confirm proper curing (for UV printers)

Only after confirming stable output should you start batch printing.

Here are typical issues users may encounter:

If issues persist, it’s best to contact your printer supplier for professional guidance.

To make future restarts easier:

• Perform proper maintenance before holidays
• Keep room humidity stable
• Do not leave ink tanks empty
• Schedule a mid-holiday test run if possible

Prevention is always easier than repair.

Restarting your UV printer, DTF printer, or DTG printer after a long New Year holiday requires patience and proper inspection.
A careful startup routine protects your printhead, ensures smooth ink flow, and prevents costly downtime.

Start slow, test carefully, and resume production with confidence.

If you need technical assistance or professional advice on printer maintenance, feel free to contact us — we’re here to help you print smoothly all year long.