GE FH26C Use and Care Manual

How to

get

the best from

YowFreemr

Conknfi

Appliance Registration

Care and Cleaning

Defrosting

Energy-Saving Tips

Freezing Recommendations

Dairy Products
Fruit

Meats, Poultry and Fish
Packaging Suggestions

Prepared Foods
Storage Time

Vegetables

Installation

Adapter Plug
Clearances

Electrical Requirements 3, 4
Extension Cord

Groundin~

Location

Lock

.

12
11

5-1o

10

3,4

4
4

4
3

4
5

2

2

9
8

6

9
6

7

Model and Serial Numbers
Moving & Vacation Tips

Power Failure
Problem Solver

Repair Service
Safety Instructions

Temperature Control
Warranty Back Cover

GE Answer Center”

800.626.2000

;

12

13, 14

15

Use

3
4

and Care of

manual

defrosting

chest model

FH26C

Help us help you...

Eneqy-~ving

tips

Read this book carefully.

It is intended to help you operate
and maintain your new freezer
properly.

Keep it handy for answers to your
questions.

If you don’t understand something
or need more help, write (include
your phone number):

Consumer Affairs

Hotpoint

Appliance Park
Louisville, KY 40225

Keep proof of original purchase
date (such as your sales slip or

cancelled check) with this book to

establish the warranty period.

Write down the model
and serial numbers.

You’ll find them on a plate located
at the top left outside rear corner of
the freezer.

These numbers are also on the
Consumer Product Ownership
Registration Card that came with
your freezer. Before sending in this
card, please write these numbers
here:

Model Number

Serial Number

Use these numbers in any
correspondence or service calls
concerning your freezer.

If you received a damaged freezer,

immediately contact the dealer (or
builder) that sold you the freezer.

Save time and money.
Before you call for service,

the Problem Solver on pages 13

14.

and
operating problems that you can
correct yourself.

It lists causes of minor

check

● Location of your freezer is

important. Don’t locate it in a warm,

laund~

unventilated
room. Avoid putting it next to your
range, a heating vent or where the
sun will shine directly on it.

s

Try to arrange your frozen foods
systematically so you can find what
you want in the freezer quickly.

. Don’t open the freezer lid more
often than necessary and close it
as soon as possible, particularly in
hot, humid weather.

s

When using your freezer, be

careful not to leave the lid open.
Always check to make sure the
freezer lid is properly closed before
leaving the house or retiring for
the night.

s

If you turn the temperature

control to the coldest position for
quick freezing, don’t forget to turn
it back to the regular setting.

area or storage

2

IMPORTANT

Read all instructions

—

WARNING—when using this
appliance, always

safety precautions, including the
following:

● Use this appliance only for its

intended purpose

this Use and Care Book.

. This freezer must be properly

installed in accordance with the
Installation Instructions before it
is used. See

below and on page

●

Never unplug your freezer by

pulling on the power cord.

grip plug firmly and pull straight out
from the outlet.

● Repair or replace immediately

all electric service cords that
have become frayed or otherwise
damaged.

shows cracks or abrasion damage
along its length or at either the plug
or connector end.

After your freezer is in operation,

.

do not touch the cold surfaces,
particularly when hands are
damp or wet.

these extremely cold surfaces.

●

Do not operate your freezer in

the presence of explosive fumes.

Do not use a cord that

exercise basic

as described in

grounding instructions

4.

Skin may adhere to

SAFEW

kfom u~ng t~

Always

lNSTRU~lONS

a~hance.

●

Don’t refreeze frozen foods

which have thawed completely.

You may safely refreeze frozen
foods that have thawed if they still
contain ice crystals or if they are
still cold—below
cannot be kept above
because of bacteria growth.)

Thawed ground meats, poultry,
or fish that have
off-color should not be refrozen
and should not be eaten. Thawed
ice cream should be discarded. If
the odor or color of any food is poor
or questionable, get rid of it. The
food may be dangerous to eat.

Even partial thawing and refreezing
reduce the eating quality of foods,
particularly fruits, vegetables, and
prepared foods. The eating quality
of red meats is affected less than
that of many other foods. Use
refrozen foods as soon as possible
—they won’t keep as long as foods
frozen only once, and the sooner
they’re used, the better their eating
quality will be.

●

If your old freezer is still around
the house but not in use, be sure
to remove the lid or door.

reduce the possibility of danger to
children.

40°F.

(Shellfish

10°F,

any

off-odor or

safely

This will

Caution should be used when
removing the door of a freezer.
Particular caution should be used
when removing the lid of a
freezer, as most chest freezer lids
are under spring tension. Contact
the manufacturer’s representative
for a method of safe removal.

● Unplug your freezer:

A.

Before making any repairs.

chest

Note: W strongly recommend
that any servicing be performed
by a qualified individual.

B.

Before cleaning.

C. Before changing the light bulb.

Note:

Turning the temperature
control to the OFF position does
not

mmova -r

to the light

ci~uit.

SAVE THESE

lNSTRU~lONS

D

m

1

lmbllatiOn ReqUi~menk–lMPORTANT...

For personal safety,
this appliance must be
properly grounded.

The power cord of this appliance
is equipped with a three-prong
(grounding) plug which mates with
a standard three-prong (grounding)
wall outlet (Fig. 1) to
possibility of electric shock hazard
from this appliance.

m;n[mize

the-

Fig. 1

Have the wall outlet and circuit
checked by a qualified electrician
to make sure the outlet is properly
grounded.

‘

/1

3

Please Read Carefully

Where a standard two-prong
wall outlet is encountered, it is
the personal responsibility and
obligation of the customer to have

it replaced with a properly grounded

three-prong wall outlet.

BEFORE USE

DO NOT, UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES, CUT
OR REMOVE THE THIRD
(GROUND) PRONG FROM
THE POWER

CORD.

(continued next page)

installation

Requirements

(continued)–IMPORTANT. .

. Please Read Carefully

Use

of adapter plug

Because of potential safety

hazards under certain conditions,
we strongly recommend against
use of an adapter plug. However,
if you still elect to use an adapter,
where local codes permit, a
TEMPORARY CONNECTION may
be made to a properly grounded
two-prong wall outlet by use of a

UL

listed adapter (Fig. 2) available

at most local hardware stores.

TEMPORARY METHOD

(ADAPTER PLUGS NOT

PERMITTEO

P

Fi

The larger slot in the adapter must
be aligned with the larger slot in the
wall outlet to provide proper polarity
in the connection of the power cord.

CAUTION:

terminal to wall outlet cover screw
does not ground the appliance
unless cover screw is metal, and
not insulated, and wall outlet is
grounded through house wiring. You
should have the circuit checked by
a qualified electrician to make sure
the outlet is properly grounded.

When disconnecting the power
cord from the adapter,

hold the adapter with one hand.
If this is not done, the adapter
ground terminal is very likely to
break with repeated use.

Should the adapter ground
terminal break, DO NOT USE the
appliance until a proper ground
has been established.

IN

CANAOA)

ON

Attaching adapter ground

always

Use

of extension cords

Because of potential safety
hazards under certain conditions,
we

strongly recommend against

the use of an extension cord.

However, if you still elect to use an

extension cord, it is absolutely

necessary that it be a UL listed
3-wire grounding type appliance
extension cord having a grounding
type plug and outlet and that the
electrical rating of the cord be 15
amperes (minimum) and 120 volts.

The freezer should always
be plugged into its own

individual electrical

(115

volt,

60 Hertz single phase
AC). This is recommended for best
performance and to prevent
overloading house wiring circuits,
which could cause a possible fire
hazard from overheating wires.

outlet–

Freezer Installation

bcation

Your freezer should be conveniently
located for day-to-day use in a dry,
well-ventilated room.

For most efficient operation, it
should not be located where air
temperature around the freezer is
ever higher than llO°F. or colder

32°F.

than
Be sure to install your freezer on a

floor strong enough to support it
when it is fully loaded.

Also see Energy-Saving Tips
regarding location.

The freezer must be solidly
positioned on the floor if it is to
function at its best. Shims maybe
used to accomplish this wherever
the floor is too uneven. If the place
selected for the freezer is damp or
moist, place 2 x 4’s under its entire
length to assure adequate support.

Cleamnce

Allow a 3-inch clearance on all
sides for proper air circulation.

Operating Your

Freaer

Starting

Clean the inside of the freezer

1.

with a mild solution of baking soda
and water (see page 12).

2. Connect cord to power outlet.

3. Turn temperature control to
No. 1. This is the normal setting for

safe long-term freezing. For colder
temperatures, turn to higher
numbers.

4. Allow freezer to operate for at

least two hours before placing food
inside.

Temperature Control

Freezing temperature selection is
made by setting the control from

7

No. 1 to No.
Normal safe freezing level is

obtained by setting the control
at No. 1.

(coldest).

4

10 Rules

for Successful

Fre~er

Features

Sliding basket

Keeps frequently-wanted foods
within easy reach; can be moved
aside to make foods below more
readily accessible.

Key-ejecting lock

Keeps your frozen food supply
secure. The spring-loaded lock is
designed so that the key is
automatically ejected—key will not
remain in lock in either the open or
locked position.

Keep key out of reach of children
and away from the food freezer.

Interior light

Turns on when the lid

turns off when the lid is closed.

is

opened;

Defrost water drain

Up-front drain with hose adapter
speeds emptying of defrost water.

Food

1. Freeze the best.

top-quality foods. Freezing retains
quality and flavor; it cannot improve
quality.

Keep work area clean.

2.

3. Work quickly.

and vegetables are frozen after
picking, the better the frozen
product will
too, because less culling and
sorting will be necessary.

Choose correct packaging

4.

materials.

out if not properly wrapped or
packaged. Both rigid containers
and flexible bags or wrappers
can be used. Make sure they are
especially designed for freezing.

5. Follow reliable instructions for
freezing different types of food.

6.

Freeze foods in practical meal-

sized packages.

7. Fill container properly.

placing liquid or semi-liquid foods
in containers, leave about 1/2” at
top (1-1/2” for glass containers) to
allow for expansion during freezing.

Freeze correct quantities.

8.
There is an established maximum
of food your freezer is designed to
freeze at one time—approximately
3 pounds per cubic foot of freezer
capacity. In normal position, your
freezer’s control dial will maintain
sufficiently low temperatures in the
freezer to freeze recommended
quantities of food.

If you have a large quantity of food
you wish to freeze, store part of it in
the fresh food compartment of your
refrigerator until the first quantity
is frozen.

Fre=ing

Freeze only

The quicker fruits

be,

You’ll save time,

Frozen foods will dry

When

Helpful Materials

You’ll find these materials helpful
in preparing foods for the freezer:

. Large kettle with close-fitting lid
for blanching vegetables and fruits

. Fine sieve or small colander to
put vegetables in for blanching

● Assortment of knives for cutting

up meat, fruits and vegetables
. Rolls of absorbent paper towels or

soft cloth towels for draining foods

. Proper freezer packaging
materials for various types of food
(see page 10)

● Small loading funnel for fruit and

vegetable containers, to keep
sealing edge clean

● Glass marking pencil for labeling

packages
. Roll of freezer tape

Quick-Fre=ing

For quick-freezing large amounts
of food, turn control to No. 7 two
hours before loading.

Return the temperature control to
No. 1 after freezing is completed.

Never freeze more than three
pounds of food per cubic foot of
freezer capacity at onetime.

Use “oldest” foods first.

9.
Continually rotate frozen foods to
the front of the freezer so the
frozen foods are used first.

10. Store frozen foods immediately.

Commercially frozen food can be
stored any place in the freezer. These
foods should not be allowed to thaw
before being placed in the freezer.

5

longest-