Frigidaire FFFC09M1RW Owner's Guide

All about the

Use & Care

of your Freezer

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Product Registration...............................................2

Energy Saving Tips ................................................2

Important Safety Instructions .................................3

First Steps ............................................................5

Optional Freezer Features ......................................5

www.frigidaire.com USA 1-800-944-9044 www.frigidaire.ca Canada 1-800-265-8352

Setting Temperature Controls..................................6

Care and Cleaning...................................... ...........7

Power Failure/Freezer Failure..................................8

Before you Call...................................................... 9

Major Appliance Warranty......................................11

297425300 (March 2012)

PRODUCT REGISTRATION

Read and Save These Instructions

This Owner’s Guide provides specic operating instructions

for your model. Use your freezer only as instructed in this
guide. These instructions are not meant to cover every
possible condition and situation that may occur. Common
sense and caution must be practiced when installing,
operating, and maintaining any appliance.

Record Your Model and Serial Numbers

Record the model and serial numbers in the space
provided below.

Model Number:
Serial Number:

Purchase Date:

ENERGY-SAVING TIPS

• The freezer should be located in the coolest area of
the room, away from heat producing appliances or
heating ducts, and out of direct sunlight.

• Let hot foods cool to room temperature before plac­ing in the freezer. Overloading the freezer forces
the compressor to run longer. Foods that freeze too
slowly may lose quality or spoil.

• Be sure to wrap foods properly and wipe contain­ers dry before placing them in the freezer. This cuts
down on frost build-up inside the freezer.

• Freezer shelves and baskets should not be lined with
aluminum foil, wax paper, or paper toweling. Liners
interfere with cold air circulation, making the freezer

less efcient.

• Organize and label food to reduce door openings and

extended searches. Remove as many items as need­ed at one time, and close door as soon as possible.

2

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING

Please read all instructions before using this freezer.

Denitions

This is the safety alert symbol. It is used to alert
you to potential personal injury hazards. Obey all safety
messages that follow this symbol to avoid possible injury
or death.

DANGER

DANGER indicates an imminently hazardous situation
which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.

WARNING

WARNING indicates a potentially hazardous situation
which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.

CAUTION

WARNING

Proper Disposal of your Freezer

Risk of child entrapment

Child entrapment and suffocation are not problems
of the past. Junked or abandoned freezers are still
dangerous – even if they will sit for “just a few days”. If
you are getting rid of your old freezer, please follow the
instructions below to help prevent accidents.

We strongly encourage responsible appliance recycling/
disposal methods. Check with your utility company or
visit www.recyclemyoldfridge.com for more information
on recycling your old wine cooler.

Before you throw away your old freezer:

• Remove door/lid.

• Leave shelves in place so children may not easily

climb inside.

DANGER

CAUTION indicates a potentially hazardous situation which,
if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury.

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT indicates installation, operation or
maintenance information which is important but not
hazard-related.

WARNING

For Your Safety

Do not store or use gasoline, or other ammable

vapors and liquids in the vicinity of this or any other

appliance. Read product labels for ammability and

other warnings.

DANGER-Risk of fire or ex plosion. F lammable refrigerant
used. Do not use mechanical devices to defrost
refrigerator. Do not puncture refrigerant tubing.

DANGER-Risk of fire or ex plosion. F lammable refrigerant

used. To be repaired only by trained service personnel.
Do not puncture refrigerant tubing.

CAUTION

CAUTION-Risk of fire or ex plosion. F lammable
refrigerant used. Consult repair manual/owner’s guide
before attempting to service this product. All safety
precautions must be followed.

CAUTION-Risk of fire or ex plosion. Dispose of property
in accordance with federal or local regulations.
F lammable refrigerant used.

CAUTION-Risk of fire or ex plosion due to puncture
refrigerant tubing. F ollow handling instructions carefully.
F lammable refrigerant used.

3

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING

Avoid re hazard or electric shock. Do not use an

extension cord or an adapter plug. Do not remove any
prong from power cord.

WARNING

Please read all safety instructions before using your
new appliance.

For Your Safety

• Do not store or use gasoline, or other ammable liq­uids in the vicinity of this or any other appliance. Read

product labels for warnings regarding ammability and

other hazards.

• Do not operate the unit in the presence of
explosive fumes.

• Remove and discard any spacers used to secure the
shelves during shipping. Small objects are a choke
hazard to children.

• Remove all staples from the carton. Staples can cause
severe cuts, and also destroy nishes if they come in

contact with other appliances or furniture.

WARNING

Electrical Information

These guidelines must be followed to ensure that
safety mechanisms in the design of this freezer will
operate properly.

• Refer to the serial plate for correct electrical rating.
The power cord of the appliance is equipped with a
three-prong grounding plug for your protection against
electrical shock hazards. It must be plugged directly
into a properly grounded three-prong receptacle, pro­tected with a 15 amp time delay fuse or circuit break­er. The receptacle must be installed in accordance with

the local codes and ordinances. Consult a qualied

electrician. Receptacles protected by Ground Fault
Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) are NOT RECOMMENDED.
Do NOT use an extension cord or adapter plug.

• If voltage varies by 10 percent or more, freezer perfor­mance may be affected. Operating the freezer with in-

sufcient power can damage the motor. Such damage

is not covered under the warranty. If you suspect your
household voltage is high or low, consult your power
company for testing.

• To prevent the freezer from being turned off acciden­tally, do not plug unit into an outlet controlled by a
wall switch or pull cord.

• Do not pinch, knot, or bend power cord in any manner.

WARNING

Child Safety

• Destroy carton, plastic bags, and any exterior wrap­ping material immediately after the wine cooler is
unpacked. Children should never use these items to
play. Cartons covered with rugs, bedspreads, plastic
sheets or stretch wrap may become airtight chambers,
and can quickly cause suffocation.

• An empty, discarded freezer is a very dangerous at­traction to children.

• Remove the door(s) of any appliance that is not in
use, even if it is being discarded.

4

WARNING

Other Precautions

• To defrost freezer, always unplug unit rst.

• Never unplug the freezer by pulling on the power cord.

Always grip the plug rmly and pull straight out from

the receptacle.

• Turning the control to OFF turns off the com­pressor, but does not disconnect power to other
electrical components.

FIRST STEPS

OPTIONAL FREEZER FEATURES

This Use & Care Guide provides general operating
instructions for your model. Use the freezer only as
instructed in this Use & Care Guide. Before starting the

freezer, follow these important rst steps.

Location

• Choose a place that is near a grounded electrical outlet.

Do Not use an extension cord or an adapter plug.

• The freezer should be located where surrounding
temperatures will not exceed 110° F (43° C). Tem­peratures of 32° F (0° C) and below will NOT affect
freezer operation. Additional compressor heaters are
not recommended.

• Allow space around the unit for good air circulation.
Leave a 4 inch (101.6 mm) space on all sides of the
freezer for adequate circulation.

Leveling (some models)

The freezer must have all bottom

corners resting rmly on a solid
oor. The oor must be strong

enough to support a fully loaded
freezer. NOTE: It is VERY
IMPORTANT for your freezer
to be level in order to function
properly. If the freezer is not leveled during installation,
the door may be misaligned and not close or seal properly,
causing cooling, frost, or moisture problems.

Leveling Leg

Security Lock with Pop-Out Key
(some models)

This security lock fastens the door snugly, ensuring that
stored food is secure. To lock or unlock the freezer, push
the key into the lock and turn. The key pops out of the
lock after it has been turned.

Defrost Drain

The defrost drain provides a method of draining the
water during defrosting and cleaning. See "Defrosting" in

Care and Cleaning Section.

Power On Light

The Power On Light indicates that the freezer is properly
connected to electrical power. The light glows even when the
temperature control is turned to OFF. If the light goes out,
refer to "Freezer does not run" in the Avoid Service Checklist.

Cleaning

• Wash any removable parts of the freezer interior and
exterior with mild detergent and warm water. Wipe dry.
DO NOT USE HARSH CLEANERS ON THESE SURFACES.

• Do not use razor blades or other sharp instruments
which can scratch the appliance surface when remov­ing adhesive labels. Any glue left from the tape can
be removed with a mixture of warm water and mild
detergent or the residue can be touched with the sticky
side of tape already removed. DO NOT REMOVE THE
SERIAL PLATE.

5

SETTING THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Cool Down Period

• For safe food storage, allow 4 hours for the freezer to cool
down completely. The freezer will run continuously for the

rst several hours. Foods that are already frozen may be
placed in freezer after the rst few hours of operation. Un-

frozen foods should NOT be loaded into freezer until freezer
has operated for 4 hours.

• When loading freezer, freeze only 3 pounds of fresh food
per cubic foot of freezer space at one time. Distribute
packages to be frozen evenly throughout the freezer. It is
not necessary to turn control knob to a colder setting while
freezing food.

Temperature Control

The temperature control is located inside the freezer on
upright models, and
on the front outside
wall on chest models.
The temperature is
factory preset to provide
satisfactory food storage
temperatures. However,
the temperature control
is adjustable to provide a
range of temperatures for
your personal satisfaction.
If a colder temperature
is desired, turn the
temperature control knob toward MAX and allow several
hours for temperatures to stabilize between adjustments.

MIN MAX

MID

OFF

POWER

6

CARE AND CLEANING

CAUTION

Damp objects stick to cold metal surfaces. Do not touch
interior metal surfaces with wet or damp hands.

Between Defrostings

To avoid frequent defrosting, occasionally use a plastic
scraper to remove frost. Scrape with a pulling motion.
Never use a metal instrument to remove frost.

CAUTION

Freezer must be unplugged (to avoid electrical hazard)
from power source when defrosting unit.

Defrosting

It is important to defrost and clean freezer when ¼
to ½ inch of frost has accumulated. Frost may tend to
accumulate faster on upper part of the freezer due to
warm, moist air entering the freezer when the door is
opened. Remove food and leave the door open when
defrosting the freezer.

Vacation and Moving Tips

Short Vacations: Leave the freezer operating during

vacations of less than three weeks.
Long Vacations: If the freezer will not be used for

several months, remove all food and unplug the power
cord. Clean and dry the interior thoroughly. To prevent
odor and mold growth, leave the freezer door open
slightly, blocking it open if necessary.

Moving: Disconnect the power cord plug from the wall
outlet. Remove food, defrost, and then clean the freezer.
Secure all loose items such as base panel, baskets, and
shelves by taping them securely in place to prevent
damage. In the moving vehicle, secure freezer in an
upright position, and secure to prevent movement. Also
protect outside of freezer with a blanket, or similar item.

If the frost is soft, remove it by using a plastic scraper. If

the frost is glazed and hard, ll deep pans with hot water

and place them on the freezer bottom. Close the freezer
door. Frost should soften in about 15 minutes. Repeat

this procedure if necessary.

Cleaning the Inside

After defrosting, wash inside surfaces of the freezer with
a solution of two tablespoons of baking soda in one quart
(1.136 litres) warm water. Rinse and dry. Wring excess
water out of the sponge or cloth when cleaning in the
area of the controls, or any electrical parts.

Wash the removable parts with the baking soda solution
mentioned above, or mild detergent and warm water.
Rinse and dry. Never use metallic scouring pads,
brushes, abrasive cleaners, or alkaline solutions on any
surface. Do not wash removable parts in a dishwasher.

Cleaning the Outside

Wash the cabinet with warm water and mild liquid
detergent. Rinse well and wipe dry with a clean soft
cloth. Replace parts and food.

7

POWER/FREEZER FAILURE

WARNING

If leaving freezer door open while on vacation, make
certain that children cannot get into the freezer and
become entrapped.

NOTE



Do not open freezer door unnecessarily if freezer is off
for several hours.

If a power failure occurs, frozen foods will stay frozen
for at least 24 hours if the freezer is kept closed. If the
power failure continues, pack seven or eight pounds
of dry ice into the freezer every 24 hours. Look in the
Yellow Pages under "Dry Ice," "Dairies," or "Ice Cream
Manufacturers" for local dry ice suppliers. Always wear
gloves and use caution when handling dry ice.

If the freezer has stopped operating, see "Freezer
does not run" in the Avoid Service Checklist Section of
this manual. If you cannot solve the problem, call an
authorized servicer immediately.

If the freezer remains off for several hours, follow the
directions above for the use of dry ice during a power
failure. If necessary, take the food to a local locker plant
until the freezer is ready to operate. Look in the Yellow
Pages under "Frozen Food Locker Plants."

8

BEFORE YOU CALL

1-800-944-9044 (United States)

1-800-265-8352 (Canada)

Visit our web site at

www.frigidaire.com.

PROBLEM CAUSE CORRECTION

REFRIGERATOR OPERATION

Freezer does not run. • Freezer is plugged into a circuit that has a

ground fault interrupt.

• Temperature Control is in the OFF position.

• Freezer may not be plugged in or plug is loose.

• Hose fuse blown or tripped circuit breaker.

• Power outage

Freezer runs too

much or too long.

FREEZER TEMPERATURES
Interior freeze

temperature is

too cold.

Temperature inside

freezer is too warm.

• Room or outside weather is hot.

• Freezer has recently been disconnected for a

period of time.

• Large amounts of warm or hot food has been
stored recently.

• Lid is opened too frequently or too long.

• Freezer lid may be slightly open.

• Temperature control is set too low.

• Freezer gasket is dirty, worn, cracked, or
poorly tted.

• Freezer control is set too low. • Set freezer control to a warmer setting. Allow several

• Freezer control is set too warm.

• Lid is opened too frequently or too long.

• Lid may not be seating properly.

• Use another circuit. If you are unsure about the outlet,

have it checked by a certied technician.

• See Setting the Temperature Control section.

• Ensure plug is tightly pushed into outlet.

• Check/replace fuse with a 15 amp time-delay fuse.

Reset circuit breaker.

• Check house lights. Call local electric company.

• It’s normal for the freezer to work longer under

these conditions.

• It takes 4 hours for the freezer to cool down completely.

• Warm food will cause freezer to run more until the

desired temperature is reached.

• Warm air entering the freezer causes it to run more.
Open lid less often.

• Ensure freezer lid is tightly closed.

• Turn control knob to a warmer setting. Allow several

hours for the temperature to stabilize.

• Clean or change gasket. Leaks in lid seal will cause freezer
to run longer in order to maintain desired temperatures.

hours for temperature to stabilize.

• Set fresh food control to a colder setting. Allow several
hours for temperature to stabilize.

• Warm air entering the freezer causes it to run more
Open lid less often.

• See “LID PROBLEMS” section.

Temperature of
external freezer is

too warm.

SOUND AND NOISE
Louder sound

levels when freezer

is on.

Longer sound lev­els when compres-

sor comes on.

Popping or cracking
sound when com-

pressor comes on.

Bubbling or gur­gling sound, like

water boiling.

• Large amounts of warm or hot food has been
stored recently.

• Freezer has recently been disconnected for a
period of time.

• The external freezer walls can be as much as
30º F warmer than room temperature.

• Modern freezers have increased storage
capacity and more stable temperatures.

They require a high efciency compressor.

• Freezer operates at higher pressures dur-

ing the start of the ON cycle.

• Metal parts undergo expansion and con­traction, as in hot water pipes.

• Refrigerant (used to cool freezer) is circu­lating throughout the system.

• Warm food will cause freezer to run more until the
desired temperature is reached.

• Freezer requires 4 hours to cool down completely.

• This is normal while the compressor works to transfer

heat from inside the freezer cabinet.

• This is normal. When the surrounding noise is low,
you might hear the compressor running while it
cools the interior.

• This is normal. Sound will level off or disappear as
freezer continues to run.

• This is normal. Sound will level off or disappear as
freezer continues to run.

• This is normal.

9

BEFORE YOU CALL (continued)

PROBLEM CAUSE CORRECTION

SOUND AND NOISE (continued)

Vibrating or rattling noise. • Freezer is not level. It rocks on the oor

when it is moved slightly.

• Floor is uneven or weak. Freezer rocks on

oor when it is moved slightly.

• Freezer is touching the wall.

WATER/MOISTURE/FROST INSIDE FREEZER
Moisture forms on inside

freezer walls.

WATER/MOISTURE/FROST OUTSIDE REFRIGERATOR
Moisture forms on outside

of freezer.

ODOR IN FREEZER

Odor in freezer. • Interior needs to be cleaned.

LID PROBLEMS

Lid will not close. • Freezer is not level. It rocks on the oor

LIGHT BULB IS NOT ON
Power Available Light is

not on

• Weather is hot and humid.

• Lid may not be seating properly.

• Lid is opened too often or too long.

• Lid may not be seating properly, causing

cold air from inside freezer to meet warm air
from outside.

• Foods with strong odors are in the freezer.

when it is moved slightly.

• Floor is uneven or weak. Freezer rocks on

oor when it is moved slightly.

• LED may be burned out.

• No electric current is reaching the freezer.

• Level the unit. Refer to ”Leveling” in the

Installation Section.

• Ensure oor can adequately support freezer.

Level the freezer by putting wood or metal
shims under part of the freezer.

• Re-level the freezer or move freezer slightly.

Refer to “Leveling” in the Installation Section.

• The rate of frost buildup and internal sweating

increases. This is normal.

• See “LID PROBLEMS”.

• Open lid less often.

• See “LID PROBLEMS”.

• Clean interior with sponge, warm water, and

baking soda.

• Cover the food tightly.

• This condition can force the cabinet out of

square and misalign the lid. Refer to “Leveling”
in the Installation Section.

• Level the oor by using wood or metal shims under

the freezer or brace oor supporting the freezer.

• Contact a qualied service dealer.

• See “Freezer does not run” in the “RUNNING

OF FREEZER” Section.

10

Major Appliance Warranty Information

MAJOR APPLIANCE WARRANTY

Your appliance is covered by a one year limited warranty. For one year from your original date of
purchase, Electrolux will pay all costs for repairing or replacing any parts of this appliance that prove
to be defective in materials or workmanship when such appliance is installed, used and maintained in
accordance with the provided instructions.

Exclusions

This warranty does not cover the following:

1. Products with original serial numbers that have been removed, altered or cannot be readily determined.

2. Product that has been transferred from its original owner to another party or removed outside the USA or
Canada.

3. Rust on the interior or exterior of the unit.

4. Products purchased “as-is” are not covered by this warranty.

5. Food loss due to any refrigerator or freezer failures.

6. Products used in a commercial setting.

7. Service calls which do not involve malfunction or defects in materials or workmanship, or for appliances
not in ordinary household use or used other than in accordance with the provided instructions.

8. Service calls to correct the installation of your appliance or to instruct you how to use your appliance.

9. Expenses for making the appliance accessible for servicing, such as removal of trim, cupboards, shelves,
etc.,which are not a part of the appliance when it is shipped from the factory.

10. Service calls to repair or replace appliance light bulbs, air fi lters, water fi lters, other consumables, or

knobs, handles, or other cosmetic parts.

11. Surcharges including, but not limited to, any after hour, weekend, or holiday service calls, tolls, ferry trip
charges, or mileage expense for service calls to remote areas, including the state of Alaska.

12. Damages to the fi nish of appliance or home incurred during installation, including but not limited to fl oors,

cabinets, walls, etc.

13. Damages caused by: services performed by unauthorized service companies; use of parts other than
genuine Electrolux parts or parts obtained from persons other than authorized service companies; or

external causes such as abuse, misuse, inadequate power supply, accidents, fi res, or acts of God.

DISCLAIMER OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES; LIMITATION OF REMEDIES

CUSTOMER’S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY UNDER THIS LIMITED WARRANTY SHALL BE PRODUCT

REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT AS PROVIDED HEREIN. CLAIMS BASED ON IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING

WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE LIMITED TO ONE YEAR
OR THE SHORTEST PERIOD ALLOWED BY LAW, BUT NOT LESS THAN ONE YEAR. ELECTROLUX SHALL NOT

BE LIABLE FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SUCH AS PROPERTY DAMAGE AND INCIDENTAL
EXPENSES RESULTING FROM ANY BREACH OF THIS WRITTEN LIMITED WARRANTY OR ANY IMPLIED

WARRANTY. SOME STATES AND PROVINCES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL

OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR LIMITATIONS ON THE DURATION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THESE
LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THIS WRITTEN WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC
LEGAL RIGHTS. YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS THAT VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.

If You Need
Service

This warranty only applies in the USA and Canada. In the USA, your appliance is warranted by Electrolux Major Appliances
North America, a division of Electrolux Home Products, Inc. In Canada, your appliance is warranted by Electrolux Canada Corp.
Electrolux authorizes no person to change or add to any obligations under this warranty. Obligations for service and parts under

this warranty must be performed by Electrolux or an authorized service company. Product features or specifi cations as described

or illustrated are subject to change without notice.

USA

1.800.944.9044

Electrolux Major Appliances
North America
10200 David Taylor Drive
Charlotte, NC 282626

Keep your receipt, delivery slip, or some other appropriate payment record to establish the warranty period
should service be required. If service is performed, it is in your best interest to obtain and keep all receipts.
Service under this warranty must be obtained by contacting Electrolux at the addresses or phone
numbers below.

Canada

1.800.265.8352

Electrolux Canada Corp.

5855 Terry Fox Way

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

L5V 3E4

11