GE FH5, FH7, FH15, FH10, FH22 Owner’s Manual

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GE Quality Product

Owner’s Manual

Models:

FH5

FH7

FH10

FH15

FH22

Part No. 162D1522P005 Pub. No. 49-6945 1-34485-002 CG 11/97

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Safety Information

Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . .3

Use of Extension Cords . . . . . .3

How to Connect Electricity . . . .4

Use of Adapter Plugs . . . . . . . .4

Operating Instructions

Starting the Freezer . . . . . . . . .5

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5, 6

Defrosting Instructions . . . . . . .7

Care and Cleaning . . . . . . . .8, 9

Installation Instructions

Preparing to

Install the Freezer . . . . . . . . . .10

Troubleshooting Tips

Before You

Call For Service . . . . . . . . .10, 11

Customer Service

Product Registration . . . . . . . .13

Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Service Telephone

Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

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Congratulations!

You Are Now Part of the GE Family

Welcome to the GE family. We’re proud of our quality products and we are committed to providing dependable service. You’ll see it in this easy-to-use Owner’s Manual and you’ll hear it in the friendly voices of our customer service department.

Best of all, you’ll experience these values each time you use your freezer. That’s important, because your new freezer will be part of your family for many years. And we hope you will be part of ours for a long time to come.

We thank you for buying GE. We appreciate your purchase, and hope you will continue to rely on us whenever you need quality appliances for your home.

GE & You, A Service Partnership.

IMPORTANT!

Fill out and return the Consumer Product Registration Card that is packed with this product. If you cannot find it, please send in the duplicate card printed in the back of this manual.

FOR YOUR RECORDS

Write the model and serial numbers here:

#

#

You can find them on a plate located at the top outside rear center of the freezer.

Staple sales slip or cancelled check here.

Proof of the original purchase date is needed to obtain service under the warranty.

READ THIS MANUAL

Inside you will find many helpful hints on how to use and maintain your freezer properly. Just a little preventive care on your part can save you a great deal of time and money over the life of your freezer.

You’ll find many answers to common problems in the Before You Call For Service section. If you review our chart of Troubleshooting Tips first, you may not need to call for service at all.

IF YOU NEED SERVICE

If you do need service, you can relax knowing help is only a phone call away. A list of toll-free customer service numbers is included in the back section. Or, in the U.S., you can always call the GE Answer Center® at 800.626.2000, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In Canada, call 1-800-361-3400.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING.

WARNING!

Use this appliance only for its intended purpose as described in this Owner’s Manual.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

When using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions should be followed, including the following:

■This freezer must be properly installed and located in accordance with the Installation Instructions before it is used.

■The freezer should not be recessed or built-in— it is designed for free-standing installation only.

■Do not allow children to climb, stand or hang on the shelves in the freezer. They could damage the freezer and seriously injure themselves.

■After your freezer is in operation, do not touch the cold surfaces, particularly when hands are damp or wet. Skin may stick to these extremely cold surfaces.

■Do not store or use gasoline or other flammable vapors and liquids in the vicinity of this or any other appliance.

■Unplug the freezer before cleaning, making repairs or changing the light bulb.

NOTE: We strongly recommend that any servicing be performed by a qualified individual.

■Turning the control to the 0 position does

not remove power to the light circuit on models with interior light.

■Do not use any electrical device or any sharp instrument in defrosting your freezer.

■Do not refreeze frozen foods which have thawed completely.

■Caution should be used when removing the door of a freezer. Particular caution should be used when removing the lid of a chest freezer, as most chest freezer lids are under spring tension.

Instructions for removing the lid of your freezer are located on the back of the freezer.

Contact the manufacturer’s representative for a method of safe removal.

IMPORTANT: PROPER DISPOSAL OF THE FREEZER

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

Before You Throw Away Your Old Refrigerator or Freezer:

■Take off the doors.

■Leave the shelves in place so that children may not easily climb inside.

CFC Disposal

Your old freezer has a cooling system that used CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons). CFCs are believed to harm stratospheric ozone.

If you are throwing away your old freezer, make sure the CFC refrigerant is removed for proper disposal by a qualified servicer. If you intentionally release this CFC refrigerant you can be subject to fines and imprisonment under provisions of the Federal Clean Air Act.

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 must use an extension cord, it is absolutely necessary that it be a UL-listed (in the United States) or a CSA-listed (in Canada), 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.

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION.

READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING.

WARNING!

HOW TO CONNECT ELECTRICITY

Do not, under any circumstances, cut or remove the third (ground) prong from the power cord. For personal safety, this appliance must be properly grounded.

The power cord of this appliance is equipped with a 3-prong (grounding) plug which mates with a standard 3-prong (grounding) wall outlet to minimize the possibility of electric shock hazard from this appliance.

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

If the outlet is a standard 2-prong wall outlet, it is your personal responsibility and obligation to

have it replaced with a properly grounded 3-prong wall outlet.

The freezer should always be plugged into its own individual electrical outlet which has a voltage rating that matches the rating plate.

This provides the best performance and also prevents overloading house wiring circuits which could cause a fire hazard from overheated wires.

Never unplug your freezer by pulling on the power cord. Always grip plug firmly and pull straight out from the outlet.

Repair or replace immediately all power cords that have become frayed or otherwise damaged. Do not use a cord that shows cracks or abrasion damage along its length or at either end.

When moving the freezer away from the wall, be careful not to roll over or damage the power cord.

USE OF ADAPTER PLUGS (Adapter plugs not permitted in Canada)

Because of potential safety hazards under certain conditions, we strongly recommend against the use of an adapter plug.

However, if you must use an adapter, where local codes permit, a temporary connection may be made to a properly grounded 2-prong wall outlet by use of a UL-listed adapter available at most local hardware stores.

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.

When disconnecting the power cord from the adapter, always hold the adapter in place with one hand while pulling the power cord plug with the other hand. If this is not done, the adapter ground terminal is very likely to break with repeated use.

If the adapter ground terminal breaks, DO NOT USE the freezer until a proper ground has been established.

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

Read and follow this Safety Information carefully.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

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About the operation of your freezer.

Starting the Freezer

		Clean the inside of the freezer with a mild solution of baking soda and water
	1
		(see Care and Cleaning).
		If the lid was removed, make sure all wires are reconnected.
	2
		Connect cord to power outlet.
	3
		Set the temperature monitor (on some models) to “ ” (off).
	4
		Move the temperature control to 4. This is the normal setting for safe, long-term
	5
		freezing. For colder temperatures turn to a higher number.
		Allow freezer to operate for at least two hours before placing food inside.
	6
		Set the temperature monitor (on some models) to “1” (on).
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4

3 5

2 6

1 7

0

Temperature Control

Freezing temperature selection is made by setting the control from 1 to 7 (coldest).

Normal safe freezing level is obtained by setting the control at 4.

Turning the temperature control all the way to the left or past 0 until it clicks stops the cooling process but does not shut off power to the freezer.

Some models have a preset temperature and no control knob.

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	3	4	5
			6
	2
			7
	1	0

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Temperature Monitor (on some models)

An alarm sounds if the temperature in the freezer rises 12°F. (-11°C.) or is higher than normal for the selected setting. The alarm, on the lower right side of the freezer next to the temperature control, is controlled by a 3-position switch.

“” prevents the alarm from sounding when the freezer is warm (during cooldown, when defrosting, or during initial start-up).

“√” causes the alarm to sound regardless of temperature. Test the alarm system regularly—at least once a month.

“1” is the setting for normal freezer use. Be sure to return the switch to “1” when the freezer has cooled down after defrosting.

The alarm may sound if the temperature control is turned to a much colder setting, as from 2 to 5. It may also sound if a large amount of unfrozen food is added at one time, causing the freezer temperature to rise.

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About the operation of your freezer.

Built-In Lock (on some models)
Keeps your frozen food supply secure.	Keep the key out of reach of children and away
	from the freezer.
Interior Light (on some models)
Turns on when the lid is opened; turns off
when the lid is closed.
Defrost Water Drain
Up-front drain with hose adapter speeds
emptying of defrost water.
Sliding Basket (on some models)
Keeps frequently-wanted foods within easy	Some models have two or three baskets.
reach; can be moved aside to make foods
below more readily accessible.

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Defrosting instructions.

Do not use any electrical device in	Depending on the climate you live in,
defrosting your freezer.	humidity and usage, your freezer may need
	defrosting only once or twice a year. If
	possible, choose a time to defrost when
	food supply is lowest.

The Fastest Way to Defrost

Defrosting can be done quickly and easily	DO NOT use an ice pick or sharp edged
by scraping freezer surfaces with a plastic	instrument as it may damage or scratch the
scraper or wooden spatula when frost is	freezer.
more than 1/4″ (6 mm) thick.

For Periodic Complete Cleaning and Frost Removal

If frost is too thick or too hard to be scraped, we suggest you do the following:

1 Remove power cord from outlet.

2 Remove all food from freezer. Food may be temporarily stored in large corrugated paper boxes, insulated bags, towels or wrapped in newspapers to preserve coldness.

3 Your freezer has a defrost water drain at the front and a hose adapter (connector) that is packaged in a plastic bag with this Owner’s Manual. Attach this hose connector to any common garden hose. Remove the drain cap on the front of the freezer and slip the other end of the hose connector into the drain plug.

After attaching the hose, remove the drain plug inside the cabinet. Sponge remaining moisture from the bottom of the freezer.

4 Defrosting will take less time if you have the freezer lid open and remove large, loose pieces of frost before they melt, or add pans of hot water.

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NOTE: Water may drip from the back flange of the lid cover during defrosting. This is normal. Ice builds up in the lid insulation when the lid is open for adding or removing food and melts during the defrosting operation.

After frost is completely removed, rinse the inside of the freezer with a solution of warm water and baking soda [about one tablespoon (15 ml) of soda to each quart (liter) of water]. Rinse with clean water and wipe dry. DO NOT use harsh or gritty cleaners in the interior.

WARNING: When cleaning in the vicinity of electrical parts (lamps, switches, controls, etc.) wring excess moisture out of sponge or cloth so that it will be barely damp to prevent water or liquid from getting into any electrical part and causing a possible shock hazard.

Replace the drain plug inside the cabinet and the cap on the defrost drain.

Fold over and dry the gasket on the hinge side of the lid.

Plug in the freezer at the electrical outlet. Turn the temperature control to its regular position and return food to the freezer.

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Care and cleaning of the freezer.

Cleaning Your Freezer

■Outside. Protect the paint finish. The finish on the outside of the freezer is a high quality, baked-on paint finish. With proper care, it will stay new-looking and rust-free for years. Apply a coat of appliance polish wax when the freezer is new and then at least twice a year. Appliance polish wax also works well to remove tape residue from freezer surfaces.

Keep the finish clean. Wipe with a clean cloth lightly dampened with appliance polish wax or mild liquid dishwashing detergent. Dry and polish with a clean, soft cloth. Do not wipe the freezer with a soiled dishwashing cloth or wet towel. Do not use scouring pads, powdered cleaners, bleach, or cleaners containing bleach.

CAUTION: Care should be taken in moving the freezer away from the wall. All types of floor coverings can be damaged, particularly cushioned coverings and those with embossed surfaces.

■Inside. Clean the inside of your freezer at least once a year. We recommend that the freezer be unplugged before cleaning. If this is not practical, wring excess moisture out of sponge or cloth when cleaning in the vicinity of switches, lights or controls.

Use warm water and baking soda solution—about a tablespoon (15 ml) of baking soda to a quart (liter) of water.

Rinse thoroughly with water and wipe dry. Do not use cleaning powders or other abrasive cleaners.

An open box of baking soda in the freezer will absorb stale freezer odors. Change the box every three months.

In Case of Extended Power Failure

■Keep freezer lid closed. Your freezer will keep food frozen for 24 hours provided warm air is not admitted.

■If freezer is out of operation for 24 hours or more, add dry ice. Leave ice in large pieces. Add more ice as required.

WARNING: Handling of dry ice can cause freezing of the hands—gloves or other protection is recommended.

■If dry ice is not available, move food to a frozen food locker temporarily—until power is restored.

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Preparing to Move

Disconnect the power cord plug from the wall outlet. Remove foods, defrost and clean the freezer.

Secure all loose items such as grille and shelves by taping them securely in place to prevent damage.

Be sure freezer stays in upright position during actual moving and in van. The freezer must be secured in van to prevent movement. Protect outside of freezer with blanket.

Preparing for Vacation

To maintain freezer in operation during vacations, be sure your house power is not turned off. For sure protection of freezer contents, you may want to ask a neighbor to check the power supply and freezer operation every 48 hours.

For extended vacations or absences, you may prefer to move your frozen foods to a storage locker temporarily. If your freezer is to be left empty, disconnect power cord plug from wall outlet. To prevent formation of odors, place open box of baking soda in freezer and leave freezer lid open.

When the freezer is not operating, it can be left in an unheated house or room without damage to cabinet or mechanism.

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Preparing to install the freezer.

Read these instructions completely and carefully.

Freezer Location

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 the air temperature around the freezer is higher than 110°F. (43°C.) or colder than 32°F. (0°C.).

Be sure to install your freezer on a floor strong enough to support it when it is fully loaded.

The freezer must be solidly positioned on the floor if it is to function at its best. Shims may be 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 (51 mm X 102 mm) under its entire length to assure adequate support.

Clearances

Allow 3″ (76 mm) on all sides for proper air circulation.

Before you call for service…

Troubleshooting Tips

Save time and money! Review the charts on the following pages first and you may not need to call for service.

Problem		Possible Causes	What To Do
Freezer does not		Freezer is unplugged.	• Push the plug completely into the outlet.
operate
		The fuse is blown/circuit	•Replace fuse or reset the breaker.
		breaker is tripped.
Freezer starts		Lid left open.	• Check to see if package is holding lid open.
too frequently
		Too frequent or too long
		lid openings.
		Temperature control	•See About the operation of your freezer.
		set too cold.
Freezer operates		Lid left open.	• Check to see if package is holding lid open.
too long
		Too frequent or too long
		lid openings.
		Temperature control	• See About the operation of your freezer.
		set too cold.
		Inadequate air circulation	•See Preparing to install the freezer.
		space around cabinet.
Noisy operation		Floor may be weak, causing	• Placing 2 X 4’s (51 mm X 102 mm) under the length of
or cabinet vibrates		freezer to vibrate when	the freezer will help support it and may reduce vibration.
		compressor is on.
		Cabinet is not positioned	•Adjust legs. See Preparing to install the freezer. Or use
		solidly on floor.	shims for uneven floor.

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