Epson Printer Error Code I-70 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Epson error I-70 means the printer's ink waste pad is approaching its capacity limit. Epson printers absorb excess ink into an internal pad during cleaning cycles and normal operation. This is not an emergency — the printer still works — but the pad will eventually fill up and need to be reset or replaced.

Affected Models

Epson EcoTank ET-2800
Epson EcoTank ET-3850
Epson WorkForce WF-2960
Epson Expression Home XP-4200
Epson EcoTank ET-4850

Common Causes

The ink waste pad has absorbed ink over thousands of pages and is nearing its designed capacity
Frequent print head cleaning cycles use large amounts of ink and fill the pad faster than normal printing does
Printing heavily saturated documents or photos uses more ink and generates more waste
The printer's internal counter has reached a threshold, even if the physical pad still has space
A very old printer that has never had its waste pad serviced is finally reaching the end of its service life

How to Fix It

Do not panic — I-70 is a warning, not a shutdown error. You still have printing time left.

The printer will typically show a harder error like W-11 or stop entirely when the pad is fully full.
Avoid running unnecessary head cleaning cycles. Each cleaning cycle dumps a large amount of ink into the waste pad.

Only run cleaning when print quality is actually poor. This extends the remaining life of the waste pad.
Download the Epson Maintenance Reset Utility (also called the Waste Ink Pad Counter Reset tool) from a trusted source.

This tool resets the internal counter. Note: it resets the counter only — not the physical pad. The pad may still need replacing.
If you are comfortable with basic printer maintenance, you can access and replace the waste pad yourself.

Search for a tutorial specific to your Epson model. The pad is usually a felt sponge inside the printer base.
For a permanent fix, take the printer to an authorized Epson service center for professional waste pad servicing.

Epson technicians can replace the pad and reset the counter with the official tool for one complete fix.

When to Call a Professional

Once the waste pad is full, the printer will stop working entirely. Epson offers a paid waste pad reset service, or you can find an authorized repair shop. Some repair shops can replace the physical pad for $40 to $80. Epson's official waste pad reset tool resets the counter but does not replace the physical pad.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I ignore the I-70 warning?

The printer will keep working for now, but eventually the waste pad will be completely full. When that happens, the printer shuts down entirely and shows a harder error code. It is better to service the pad now while you still have warning time.

Is resetting the counter with the utility tool safe?

The counter reset is safe for the electronics, but be aware it does not clean or replace the physical pad. If the pad is very saturated and you reset only the counter, the pad may eventually leak ink inside the printer. The safest approach is to reset the counter AND replace the pad at the same time.

How many pages does it take to fill a waste ink pad?

It varies widely by usage. A printer used mostly for documents can last 10,000 to 15,000 pages before the pad fills. Heavy photo printing or frequent cleaning cycles can fill it in 3,000 to 5,000 pages. The I-70 warning typically appears when about 80 to 90 percent of pad capacity is used.