After months or years of loyal service, you may see a flashing error message on your screen: “Service Required” or “Parts inside your printer are at the end of their service life.” Before you rush to throw your printer away or pay a technician $100, you need to learn about the .

If you own an Epson L3210, you have invested in one of the most reliable ink tank printers on the market. Known for its low cost per page and high page yield, the L3210 is a workhorse for home offices and small businesses. However, like all consumer inkjet printers, it comes with a silent enemy: the waste ink pad counter .

The waste ink pad is a finite sponge. Resetting the counter does not remove the ink. It simply tricks the printer into thinking the pad is new.