Smart Tank 551 has air in the lines

[livilou259]

The ink lines in my printer have air in them. How do I get it out? I have looked all over this forum and any links that might help seem to not be there.

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @livilou259,

Welcome to The HP Support Community.  

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

I understand you have air in the ink lines of your HP Smart Tank Plus 555 Wireless All-In-One printer, you can try the following steps to remove it:

Run the Printer’s Cleaning Utility:

• On the printer’s control panel, navigate to the settings menu.
• Look for the "Maintenance" or "Tools" section.
• Select the "Clean Printhead" or "Printhead Cleaning" option. This will run a cleaning cycle that may help remove air bubbles from the ink lines.

Perform a Printer Reset:

• Turn off the printer and unplug it from the power source.
• Wait for about 60 seconds.
• Plug the printer back in and turn it on. This can sometimes help resolve minor issues with the ink system.

Check for Proper Ink Cartridge Installation:

• Open the ink cartridge access door.
• Ensure that all ink cartridges are installed correctly and securely.
• Remove and reinstall each cartridge, making sure they snap into place properly.

Manually Prime the Ink System:

• Sometimes, manually priming the ink system can help.
• This involves removing the ink cartridges and gently squeezing the ink tanks to encourage ink flow. Be cautious not to squeeze too hard to avoid spilling ink.

Perform a Printhead Alignment:

• Go to the printer’s settings menu and look for the option to align the printhead.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the alignment process.

Consult the Printer Manual:

• Refer to the user manual for any specific instructions related to air in the ink lines for your model.

Refer to this document: HP Smart Tank Plus 555 Wireless All-in-One User manual

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. 

[livilou259]

While I do appreciate the reply, some of these do not apply to my printer. This is a printer with refillable ink tanks so there are no ink cartridges to take out. Just printheads and it won't more to the center unless something is wrong with them. Needless to say, it doesn't move to the center since they show fine. I have performed more printhead cleanings that I can count, with no results. I have also done print alignments. There is air from the tanks to the printheads and it needs to be removed. I need to know how to do that.

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @livilou259 ,

Thank you for your response, I appreciate your efforts. As the issue persists, I am sorry to hear that I'm sending out a private message to assist you with the next course of action. 

Please check your Private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile Next, to your profile Name, you should see a little blue envelope, please click on it or simply click on this link.

I hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!