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

Food Freezers
Chest
Part No. 162D1522P005 Pub. No. 49-6945 1-34485-002 CG 11/97
Models:
FH5 FH7 FH10 FH15 FH22
Owner’s Manual
GE Quality Product

Operating Instructions

Safety Instructions

Installation Instructions

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, AService Partnership.

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
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.
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.
READ THIS MANUAL
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.
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IMPORT ANT!
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.
Operating Instructions
Safety Instructions
Installation Instructions
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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Operating Instructions
Safety Instructions
Installation Instructions
Installation Instructions
Safety Instructions
Operating Instructions
Installation Instructions
Safety Instructions
Operating Instructions
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.
SA VE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Operating Instructions
Safety Instructions
Installation Instructions
About the operation of your freezer.

Starting the Freezer

Clean the inside of the freezer with a mild solution of baking soda and water (see
Care and Cleaning
). If the lid was removed, make sure all wires are reconnected. Connect cord to power outlet. Set the temperature monitor (on some models) to “ ” (off). Move the temperature control to
4.
This is the normal setting for safe, long-term
freezing. For colder temperatures turn to a higher number. Allow freezer to operate for at least two hours before placing food inside. Set the temperature monitor (on some models) to “11” (on).
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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.
“11” is the setting for normal freezer use. Be sure to return the switch to “11” 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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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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Operating Instructions
Safety Instructions
Installation Instructions
Installation Instructions
Safety Instructions
Operating Instructions
Installation Instructions
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Operating Instructions
About the operation of your freezer.
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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.
Sliding Basket
(on some models)
Keeps frequently-wanted foods within easy reach; can be moved aside to make foods below more readily accessible.
Some models have two or three baskets.
Defrost Water Drain
Up-front drain with hose adapter speeds emptying of defrost water.
Interior Light
(on some models)
Turns on when the lid is opened; turns off when the lid is closed.
Operating Instructions
Safety Instructions
Installation Instructions
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Defrosting instructions.
Do not use any electrical device in defrosting your freezer.
Depending on the climate you live in, 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 by scraping freezer surfaces with a plastic scraper or wooden spatula when frost is more than 1/4(6 mm) thick.
DO NOT use an ice pick or sharp edged instrument as it may damage or scratch the freezer.
For Periodic Complete Cleaning and Frost Removal
If frost is too thick or too hard to be scraped, we suggest you do the following:
Remove power cord from outlet. 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.
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.
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.
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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Installation Instructions
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Operating Instructions
Care and cleaning of the freezer.
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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.
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.
Operating Instructions
Safety Instructions
Installation Instructions
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.
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.
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Operating Instructions
Safety Instructions
Installation Instructions
Installation Instructions
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Operating Instructions
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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