Help please re printer I think I'm going mad!

TaBunny

Hi all,

Please can someone tell me if I'm going mad. Ok 3 days ago I bought and set up a new printer, Epson DX4000 all in one scanner etc. It all went well and is a great printer but here's the problem......... it just stinks of ink! Yes ink. I can't understand why but the whole of my kitchen and front room (the printer is in the kitchen area) just stinks of ink and I have had a headache every single day since I set up the printer. I've opened the printer dock and no ink is leaking out so I am totally bemused.

Now some of you may just laugh and say ok deal with it get a life it's no biggie, but seriously I am starting to worry if these ink fumes are harmful or not, I mean I've had a pretty much non stop headache for 3 days and no matter how much I air the house the smell just comes back. Everyone can smell it who comes in, it's not a strong smell but once in your nostrils it's down your throat and everything tastes of ink.

I am actually getting quite distressed about this, I am worried this will be like this always and also obviously am worried it could cause health problems.

So I wanted to ask if anyone here had had a similar 'smelly' printer problem and if anyone knows if the ink smell is harmful in anyway? Epson website has been no help.

Thanks guys please don't laugh

superscaper

Not heard of it before but I'd certainly be worried. The organic solvents used are harmless in small quantities but they're certainly not healthy to inhale in large quantities. When we did any experimenting with inkjet inks in our department they had to be done in a fume cupboard for health & safety reasons. Have you tried replacing the cartridges and seeing if it still causes a problem? Ideally you shouldn't be able to smell anything at all.

TaBunny

superscaper wrote: »

Not heard of it before but I'd certainly be worried. The organic solvents used are harmless in small quantities but they're certainly not healthy to inhale in large quantities. When we did any experimenting with inkjet inks in our department they had to be done in a fume cupboard for health & safety reasons. Have you tried replacing the cartridges and seeing if it still causes a problem? Ideally you shouldn't be able to smell anything at all.

Exactly I didn't think I should be able to smell anything either, these cartridges came with the printer, they are genuine epson ones, I do have some I bought on ebay which aren't originals I will try changing them as you suggested. I really do feel quite ill at the moment, even after painkillers I am feeling naucious and like I'm going to pass out it really is awful but I was worried I was just going crazy.

BillScarab

If everyone who comes to your house can smell it, it's not just you being over sensitive so I'd return it to wherever you bought it and get a replacement. I've never heard of a printer that smelt as strongly as your's seems to.

TaBunny

Unfortunately I bought it on Amazon a month ago but we only unpacked it 3 days ago when our new desk arrived, so not sure what I can do and Amazon are a nightmare to get help from.

TaBunny

Right I just tried to change the ink like suggested by superscraper but I can't get the dam ink dock to move into the correct position so I'm able to open it, it just keeps whizzing up and down along the cartridge and I'm not able to push it into the opening where you can change the ink. There was no instruction booklet just a silly piece of paper showing you how to instal the ink the first time and when we unpacked the printer the ink dock was already in the correct opening for the ink to be slotted in. I don't want to force it as it may break the printer so I'm kind of stuck. May have to wait for OH to come home later maybe he will be able to get the ink out. All I know is that I feel quite ill so gonna go walk outside to get some air only thing I can think to do is unplug the dam thing and put it back in its box.

Re everyone smelling it. I keep asking the whole family if they can smell it and they say that they can a little but I have mega sensitive sense of smell and smells do affect me sometimes, even the smell of some fabric conditioners or perfumes give me headaches so I am the only one suffering re this ink smell. The others in the house can only smell it if they stand in front of the printer and sniff up but I can smell it coming down my hall and if I sit in the front room it's just up my nostrills all the time. Anyway point is I shouldn't be able to smell anything so something is definately not right.

superscaper

The problem is that they put so many volatile compounds in and I'm sure many are trade secrets so you're dealing with a lot of unknowns but many of these organic compounds can actually be carcinogenic in large enough quantities over time. I used to use chloroform in very small quantities because it is a good solvent for evaporation but you certainly wouldn't want a lot of chloroform hanging about, it's what all the bad guys use in films to knock people out with (on a handkerchief). That's just one of the safer ones I can think of. I'd definitely contact Amazon again stressing a health and safety point of view.

TaBunny

superscaper wrote: »

The problem is that they put so many volatile compounds in and I'm sure many are trade secrets so you're dealing with a lot of unknowns but many of these organic compounds can actually be carcinogenic in large enough quantities over time. I used to use chloroform in very small quantities because it is a good solvent for evaporation but you certainly wouldn't want a lot of chloroform hanging about, it's what all the bad guys use in films to knock people out with (on a handkerchief). That's just one of the safer ones I can think of. I'd definitely contact Amazon again stressing a health and safety point of view.

Ok thanks I will ring them now, I threw away all the packaging only kept the box so if they want it back I'm a bit stuffed, but anyway here goes nothing will ring and let you know what they say.

TaBunny

Right heads up on the printer, weirdest thing ever, rung amazon explained the situation and within 2 minutes the woman was issuing me a refund and telling me that I should package it up touching it as little as possible and that they would have a courier around this very afternoon to collect it. Never had a company do so much so fast to remedy something. Strange thing is now it's all boxed up the smell has gone and I feel much better. So now I just have to hope that there's no long term effects hopefully not seeings as it was only here 3 days, but most amazing thing was how quickly amazon put a collection and refund into action, wonder if they're covering themselves incase I had decided to take it further oddest thing ever. Now I'm stuck with a bag full of 12 inks I bought which are no good to me but glad to be rid of the thing, health is far more important than money.

superscaper

TaBunny wrote: »

So now I just have to hope that there's no long term effects hopefully not seeings as it was only here 3 days, but most amazing thing was how quickly amazon put a collection and refund into action, wonder if they're covering themselves incase I had decided to take it further oddest thing ever.

I'm sure you'll be fine, overall it was probably a very small dosage and for only over three days I wouldn't worry. I think once there are health implications companies get very worried, the HSE (health and safety executive) have an awful lot of legal weight and you wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of them. I'm glad they are sorting it so quickly. I'm ok so far and I've used loads things like acetone, isopropanol etc. Did scare myself silly once when I spilled liquid nitrogen all over my arm. But no 'arm done

TaBunny

Oh my god well I can't believe it but parcelforce have just collected the printer, I'd just about had time to put it in the packaging and they were here, that's the fastest turn around in history I think amazing. Good on Amazon is all I can say and believe it or not I am now feeling a lot better, no more dizziness or anything, just reinforces the fact that it was the ink making me ill!