Gibson GFU14F3HW3 User manual

P/N216616300(9902)

2
© 1999 White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Contents
This Owner’s Guide provides operating
instructions for your model. Use your
freezeronlyasinstructedinthisOwner’s
Guide.
Energy Saving Ideas • The freezer should be installed in 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 freezer. Overloading
thefreezerforcesthecompressortorunlonger. Foodsthatfreezetooslowlymay
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 efficient.
• Organize and label food to reduce door openings and extended searches.
Removeasmanyitemsasneededatonetime,andclosedoorassoonaspossible.
The information contained in this Owner's Guide will instruct you on how to
properly operate and care for your product. Please read through the information
contained in your literature pack to learn more about your new appliance.
Record Your Model and Serial Numbers
Record the Model No. and Serial No. of this freezer in the space provided below.
Model No. __________________________________________________
Serial No. ___________________________________________________
Register Your Product
The self-addressed PRODUCT REGISTRATION CARD (shown left) should be filled in
completely, signed and returned to Frigidaire.
2 Product Registration
2 Energy Saving Ideas
3 Important Safety Instructions
4 First Steps
5 Setting the Temperature Control
5-6 Freezer Optional Features
6-7 Care and Cleaning
8 Power Failure/Freezer Failure
9-10 Avoid Service Checklist
11 U.S. Warranty
Product Registration

3
Read all instructions before using this freezer.
For Your Safety
Donotstore or use gasolineorother flammable vapors andliquidsin the vicinity of
this or any other appliance. Read product labels for flammability and other
warnings.
Child Safety
•Destroy carton, plastic bags, and any exterior wrapping material immediately
after the freezer is unpacked. Children should never use these items for play.
Cartons covered with rugs, bedspreads, plastic sheets or stretch wrap may
become airtight chambers and can quickly cause suffocation.
•Achildmightsuffocateifhecrawlsintoafreezertohideor play. Remove
the door of a freezer when not in use, even if you plan to discard the
freezer. Many communities have laws requiring you to take this safety
precaution.
Electrical Information
Theseguidelinesmustbefollowedtoensurethatsafety mechanismsinthe
design of this freezer will operate properly.
• Refer to the serial plate for correct electrical rating. The appliance power
cord isequippedwithathree-pronggroundingplugforprotectionagainstshock
hazards. Itmustbepluggeddirectlyintoitsownproperlygroundedthree-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 qualified 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 insufficient power can damage the motor. Such
damageisnotcoveredunderthewarranty. Ifyoususpectyourhouseholdvoltage
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.
Other Precautions
• Neverunplugfreezerby pulling on power cord. Alwaysgripplugfirmly, and pull
straight out from receptacle.
• Turning control to OFF turns off the compressor, but does not disconnect power
to other electrical components.
Important Safety
Instructions
Proper Disposal of Your
Refrigerator/Freezer
Risk of child entrap-
ment. Child entrapment and
suffocation are not problems of the past.
Junked or abandoned refrigerators or
freezer 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/FREEZER:
*Remove doors.
*Leave shelves in
place so children
may not easily
climb inside.
Avoid fire hazard or
electric shock. Do not use an extension
cordoranadapterplug. Donotremove
any prong from power cord.

4
First Steps
1"
3"
3" 3"
3" AIR SPACE
Installation
Unpacking and Leveling - Upright Freezers
Upright Freezer Door Removal
Before starting the freezer, follow these important first steps:
Installation
• Choose a place that is near a grounded electrical outlet.
• Forthemostefficientoperation,thefreezershouldbelocatedwheresurrounding
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.
•Allowspacearoundtheunitforgoodaircirculation.Leavea3inch(75mm)space
on all sides of the freezer for adequate circulation.
Leveling
Thefreezermusthaveallbottomcornersrestingfirmlyonasolidfloor.Thefloormust
bestrongenoughtosupportafullyloadedfreezer.NOTE:ItisVERYIMPORTANTfor
yourfreezertobelevelinordertofunctionproperly.Ifthefreezerisnotleveledduring
installation, the door may be misaligned and not close or seal properly, causing
cooling,frost,ormoistureproblems.
To Level Upright Unit:
After discarding crating screws and wood base, use a carpenter's level to level the
freezerfromfront-to-back.Adjusttheplasticlevelingfeetinfront,1/2bubblehigher,
so that the door closes easily when left halfway open.
To Level Chest Unit:
If needed, add metal or wood shims between feet pads and floor.
Cleaning
• Wash any removable parts, 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
appliancesurfacewhenremovingadhesivelabels. Anyglueleftfromthetapecan
be removed with a mixture of warm water and mild detergent, or touch the
residue with the sticky side of tape already removed. DO NOT REMOVE THE
SERIAL PLATE.
Upright Freezer Door Removal
If door must be removed:
1. Lift up plastic hinge cover and fold back.
2. Use a Phillips® screwdriver to loosen and retighten the screws on the top hinge
to insure a secure assembly and prevent hinge slippage.
3. Remove the top hinge from cabinet and lift door off the lower hinge pin.
4. After door is removed, remove the two screws from the bottom hinge.
5. To replace door, reverse above order.
Door Adjustment
If door gasket does not seal, adjust screw on bottom edge of door:
• If door does not seal on top, see Figure A
below.
• If door does not seal on bottom, see
Figure B.

5
Setting the
Temperature Control Cool Down Period
•For safe food storage, allow 4 hours for freezer to cool down completely. The
freezer will run continuously for the first several hours. Foods that are already
frozen may be placed in freezer after the first few hours of operation. Unfrozen
foods should NOT be loaded into freezer until freezer has operated for 4 hours.
• Whenloadingfreezer,freezeonly3poundsoffreshfoodpercubicfootoffreezer
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
Thetemperaturecontrolislocatedinsidefreezeronuprightmodels,andontheleft
outside wall on chest models. The temperature control should be factory pre-set
tonumber 4,whichwillprovidesatisfactoryfoodstoragetemperatures. However,
the temperature control is adjustable to provide a range of temperatures for your
personal satisfaction. If a colder temperature is desired, turn temperature control
knobto a higher number. Adjust by one numerical increment at a time, and allow
several hours for temperatures to stabilize between adjustments.
Freezer Optional
Features NOTE: Your freezer may have some, or all of the features listed below.
Become familiar with these features, and their use and care.
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.
Temp Alarm (audible only or audible with warning light)
This feature is designed to provide a warning of possible malfunction. If the
temperatureofthefoodrisestoalevelunsafeforlong-termstorage,thebuzzerwill
sound.Theredlightwillalsoglowonmodelssoequipped. TheTempAlarmfeature
operatesonhouseholdelectricity. Ifpowerfails,thealarmwillnotperform. AnON/
OFFswitchallowsyoutodeactivatetheTempAlarmwhennotwanted. Thefreezer
isshippedwithTempAlarmintheOFFposition. Afterfreezerhasrunapproximately
4 hours, the red light, if equipped, will go off. Then you may activate the Temp
Alarm without the alarm sounding.
To activate the Temp Alarm, press the eraser end of a pencil, or a freezer key into
the hole marked ON, moving the rocker switch. To deactivate the Temp Alarm,
press the OFF switch.
If the alarm sounds, be sure freezer is properly leveled, and the door closes freely,
andsealsproperly. Ifyoususpectatechnicalmalfunction,callanauthorizedservicer
immediately.
Slide-Out Basket (upright models)
TheSlide-OutBasket,locatedatthebottomofthefreezerprovidesseparatestorage
spacefor items that are difficult to store on freezer shelves. To remove basket, pull
out, and lift up.
Juice Can Rack(upright models)
The Juice Can Rack on the freezer door is specially ridged to store juice cans and
prevent them from rolling out of the shelf.
Security Lock with Pop-Out Key
Thissecuritylockfastensthedoorsnugly,ensuringstoredfoodis secure. Tolockor
unlockthefreezer,pushthekeyintothe lockandturn.Thekeypopsoutofthe lock
after it has been turned.
TEMP. ALARM
OFF ON
ALARM
Temp Alarm - Upright Freezers

6
Freezer Optional
Features (continued) Interior Light
Thelightcomesonautomaticallywhenthedoorisopened.Toreplacethelightbulb,
turnthetemperaturecontroltoOFFandunplugtheelectricalcord.Replacetheold
bulb with a bulb of the same wattage.
Adjustable Shelf(upright models)
This shelf can be moved to one of two positions. Lift the shelf up and out to move
to the desired position.
Power Defrost
The Power Defrost feature will defrost freezer in a fraction of the time usually
required. To defrost, remove all food, and follow these steps.
1. Pull out Power Defrost Plunger. Leave door open while defrosting. (Closing
freezer door will push in plunger and power defrost will be turned off.)
2. Push Power Defrost Plunger in to restart freezer after defrosting is completed.
Defrost Drain
The defrost drain provides a method of draining the water during defrosting and
cleaning. See "Defrosting" in Care and Cleaning Section.
Slide-Aside Basket (chest models)
This basket helps organize odd-shaped items. To reach other packages in the
freezer, slide the basket aside or lift out.
Divider/Drain Pan (chest models)
TheDivider/DrainPandoubles as a convenient storage area andservesasa shallow
drainpanwhendefrosting.Toremove,liftpanstraightupoutofthesupports,and
out of the chest.
Fast Freezing Shelves (upright models)
These shelves contain cooling coils to freeze foods quickly and allow cold air to
constantlycirculatethroughoutthefreezer.Donotuse sharp metalobjectssuchas
icepicksorscraperstocleantheshelves.Thiscoulddamage theshelvesandreduce
their cooling ability. These shelves are not adjustable.
Slide-Aside Basket
Care and Cleaning Someuprightfreezersarefrost-freeanddefrostautomatically,butshouldbecleaned
occasionally.Beforecleaningordefrosting,unplugthepowercordfromtheelectrical
outlet.
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.
WARNING
Damp objects stick to
coldmetalsurfaces.Donottouchinterior
metal surfaces with wet or damp hands.
Power Defrost Plunger - Chest Freezers
Power Defrost - Upright Freezers

7
Care and Cleaning
(continued)
Figure 1
Figure 4
Defrosting
It is important to defrost and clean freezer when 1/4 to 1/2 inch of frost has
accumulated. Frostmay tend to accumulate faster on upper part of freezer due to
warm, moist air entering freezer when door is opened. Remove food and leave
door open when defrosting freezer.
•On upright models with a defrost drain (Figure 1), remove drain plug on the
insidefloorofthe freezer by pulling straight out. Toaccessexternaldrain tube on
models with a base panel, first remove the two screws from the base panel.
Locate the drain tube near the left center under the freezer. Place a shallow pan
under the drain tube. Defrost water will drain out. Check pan occasionally so
waterdoesnotoverflow.A1/2inchgardenhoseadaptercanbeusedtodrainthe
freezerdirectlyintoafloordrain.Ifyourmodelisnotequippedwithanadapter,one
canbepurchasedatmosthardwarestores.Replacethedrainplugwhendefrosting
andcleaning are completed. If thedrain is left open, warm air mayenter freezer.
•On chest models with a defrost drain, place a shallow pan or the Divider/Drain
Pan(somemodels)beneaththedrainoutlet(Figure2).Aonehalfinchgardenhose
adaptercanbeusedtodrainthefreezerdirectlyintoafloordrain(Figure3).Ifyour
model is not equipped with an adapter, one can be purchased at most hardware
stores. Pull out the drain plug inside the freezer, and pull off the outside defrost
drainplug(Figure4).Defrostwaterwilldrainout.Checkpanoccasionallysowater
does not overflow. Replace the drain plugs when defrosting is completed.
•Onmodelswithoutadefrostdrain,placetowelsornewspapersonthefreezer
bottom to catch the frost. The frost will loosen and fall. Remove towels and/or
newspapers.
• Ifthefrostissoft,removeitbyusingaplasticscraper.Ifthefrostisglazedandhard,
fill 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.
Washtheremovablepartsanddoorbasketwiththebakingsodasolutionmentioned
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.
Vacation and Moving Tips
Short Vacations: Leave the freezer operating during vacations of less than three
weeks.
Long Vacations: Ifthefreezerwillnotbeusedforseveralmonths,removeallfood
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: Disconnectthepowercordplugfromthewalloutlet. Removefoods,then
defrost,andcleanthefreezer. Securealllooseitemssuchasbasepanel,baskets,
If leaving freezer door
openwhileonvacation,makecertain
that children cannot get into the
freezer and become entrapped.
WARNING
Figure 2
Figure 3
DRAINPLUG
DRAIN
TUBE
BASE
PANEL
SCREWS
PAN
DEFROST
DRAINPLUG
HOSE
ADAPTOR
DEFROST
DRAINPLUG
DRAIN
PLUG

8
Power Failure/
Freezer Failure
Do not open freezer door
unnecessarily if freezer is
off for several hours.
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 a power failure occurs, frozen foods will stay frozen for at least 24 hours if the
freezeris kept closed. Ifthe power failure continues, pack seven oreight 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."

9
Avoid Service Checklist Before calling for service, review this list. It may save you both time and
expense. This list includes common occurrences that are not the result of
defective workmanship or materials in this appliance.
This freezer must not be plugged into a circuit that has ground fault interrupt. If you are
unsure about the outlet, have it checked by a certified technician.
Temperature control is in the OFF position. See Setting the Temperature Control Section.
Freezer may not be plugged in, or plug may be loose. Be sure plug is tightly pushed into
electrical outlet.
House fuse has blown, or circuit breaker has tripped. Check/reset circuit breaker, or replace
fuse with 15 amp. time delay fuse.
Power outage. Check house lights. Call local electric company.
Room or outside weather is hot. It is normal for the freezer to work harder under these
conditions.
Freezer had recently been disconnected for a period of time. Freezer requires 4 hours to cool
down completely.
Large amounts of warm or hot food have been stored recently. Warm food will cause the
freezer to run more until the desired temperature is reached.
Dooriskeptopentoolongortoofrequently.Warmairentersthe freezerevery timethe door
is opened. Open the door less often.
Freezer door may be slightly open. See Occurrence “Door Problems.”
Temperaturecontrolis settoocold. Turnthecontrol knobtoa warmersetting.Allowseveral
hours for the temperature to stabilize.
Freezer gasket is dirty, worn, cracked, or poorly fitted. Clean or change gasket. Leaks in the
door seal will cause freezer to run longer in order to maintain desired temperature.
Temperature control is set too cold. Turn the control to a warmer setting. Allow several
hours for the temperature to stabilize.
Temperature control is set too warm. Turn the control to a colder setting. Allow several
hours for the temperature to stabilize.
Door is kept open too long or is opened too frequently. Warm air enters the freezer every
time the door is opened. Open the door less often.
Door may be open slightly. See Occurrence section “Door Problems.”
Large amounts of warm or hot food might have been stored recently. Wait until the freezer
has had a chance to reach its selected temperature.
Freezer has recently been disconnected for a period of time. Freezer requires 4 hours to cool
down completely.
The exterior freezer walls can be as much as 30°F warmer than room temperature. This is
normal while the compressor works to transfer heat from inside the freezer cabinet.
Modern freezers have increased storage capacity and more even temperatures. They
require a high efficiency compressor. When the surrounding noise level is low, you might
hear the compressor running while it cools the interior.
Freezer operates at higher pressures during the start of the ON cycle. This is normal. Sound
will level off or disappear as freezer continues to run.
Metal parts undergo expansion and contraction, as in hot water pipes. This is normal. Sound
will level off or disappear as freezer continues to run.
FREEZER DOES NOT RUN
OCCURRENCE SOLUTION
Freezer runs too much or too long.
Temperatures inside the freezer are
too cold.
Temperatures inside the freezer are
too warm.
Temperature of external freezer
surface is warm.
SOUND AND NOISE
Louder sound levels whenever
freezer is on.
Louder sound levels when compressor
comes on.
Popping or cracking sound when
compressor comes on.

10
SOUND AND NOISE (cont'd)
OCCURRENCE SOLUTION
Bubbling or gurgling sound, like water
boiling.
Vibrating or rattling noise.
Floor is uneven or weak. Freezer rocks on the floor when it is moved slightly. Be sure floor
can adequately support freezer. Level the freezer by putting wood or metal shims under part
of the freezer.
Freezer is touching the wall. Relevel the freezer or move freezer slightly. Refer to "Leveling"
in the First Steps Section.
Weather is hot and humid, which increases internal rate of frost build-up. This is normal.
Door is slightly open. See Occurrence “Door Problems.”
Door is kept open too long, or is opened too frequently. Open the door less often.
Door is slightly open, causing the cold air from inside the freezer to meet warm moist air from
outside. See “Door Problems” in the Occurrence Section.
Interior needs to be cleaned. Clean interior with sponge, warm water, and baking soda.
Foods with strong odors are in the freezer. Cover the food tightly.
Freezer is not level. It rocks on the floor when it is moved slightly. This condition can force the
cabinet out of square and misalign the door. Refer to "Leveling" in the First Steps Section.
Floor is uneven or weak. Freezer rocks on the floor when it is moved slightly. Level the floor
by using metal or wood shims under the freezer or brace floor supporting the freezer.
Light bulb is burned out. Follow directions under "Interior Light" in the Freezer Features
Section.
No electric current is reaching the freezer. See Occurrence "Freezer Does Not Run."
Refrigerant (used to cool freezer) is circulating throughout the system. This is normal.
Freezer is not level. It rocks on the floor when it is moved slightly. Level the unit. Refer to
"Leveling" in the First Steps Section.
Moisture forms on inside freezer walls.
WATER/MOISTURE/FROST
OUTSIDE FREEZER
Moisture forms on outside of
freezer.
ODOR IN FREEZER
Door will not close.
LIGHT BULB IS NOT ON
WATER/MOISTURE/FROST
INSIDE FREEZER
DOOR PROBLEMS