Printer Heads

Does anyone know how to check if the printer heads are bad. I have an Epson 1280 printer with the continuous ink flow system on it. I am have trouble with the heads getting clogged up. I can clean the heads, get a good nozzle check. Then print a photo, after printing the photo I can check the nozzles again and the nozzle pattern isn't that good. I think that it is the ink, the continuous ink flow system or bad print heads. One company said they thought by using their system would solve my problems, because their system has a filter in the system.

Any help would be appreciated