How to Troubleshoot an Airbrush Paint Sprayer That Will Not Spray

Check the paint cup to see if it’s empty. If there is no paint to spray, the airbrush paint sprayer won’t work. Fill the paint cup up and try again.

Determine if the paint is too thick. Airbrush paint sprayers need the paint inside to be thinned with a little bit of water to keep the nozzle clear. Thin the paint with ½ cup of water and check the paint sprayer to see if it works.

Remove the sprayer's nozzle and blow air into it with a blowgun to dislodge any paint that might be stuck inside. Try the sprayer again.

Check the vent holes in the airbrush sprayer. If any of the holes are clogged, use a cotton swab to unclog them and try the paint sprayer again.

Clean the paint sprayer if it still isn’t working. Pour paint thinner into the paint cup and spray it through the nozzle to clean out the inside of the sprayer. Keep spraying the paint thinner through the sprayer until the thinner comes out clean and is not tainted with paint color. If that doesn’t work, disassemble the paint sprayer according to the manufacturer's instructions and wipe down all the nozzles with paint thinner.