GE Appliances Bottom-Freezer Refrigerators

Owner's Manual & Installation Instructions

Model: GBE17HYRFS

Welcome

Thank you for making GE Appliances a part of your home. We take pride in the craftsmanship, innovation, and design that goes into every GE Appliances product. Registration of your appliance ensures that GE Appliances can deliver important product information and warranty details when you need them. Register your GE appliance online. Helpful websites and phone numbers are available in the Consumer Support section of this Owner's Manual. You may also mail in the pre-printed registration card included in the packing material.

Safety Information

⚠️ WARNING

To reduce the risk of fire, explosion, electric shock, or injury when using your refrigerator, follow these basic safety precautions:

⚠️ CAUTION

To reduce the risk of injury when using your refrigerator, follow these basic safety precautions:

⚠️ WARNING FIRE OR EXPLOSION HAZARD

This appliance contains isobutane refrigerant, also known as R600a, a natural gas with high environmental compatibility. However, it is also combustible. Adhere to the warnings below to reduce the risk of injury or property damage.

  1. When handling, installing and operating the appliance, care should be taken to avoid damage to the refrigerant tubing.
  2. Service shall only be performed by authorized service personnel. Use only manufacturer-authorized service parts.
  3. Dispose of refrigerator in accordance with the Federal and Local Regulations. The flammable refrigerant and insulation material used in this product require special disposal procedures. Contact your local authorities for the environmentally safe disposal of your refrigerator.
  4. Keep ventilation openings in the appliance enclosures or in the built-in structure clear of obstruction.
  5. To remove frost, scrape with a plastic or wood spatula or scraper. Do not use an ice pick or a metal or sharp-edged instrument as it may puncture the freezer liner and then the flammable refrigerant tubing behind it.
  6. Do not use electrical appliances inside the food storage compartment of the appliance.
  7. Do not use any electrical device to defrost your freezer.

Installation

⚠️ WARNING FIRE OR EXPLOSION HAZARD

Keep flammable materials and vapors, such as gasoline, away from refrigerator. Failure to do so can result in fire, explosion, or death.

Connecting Electricity

⚠️ WARNING ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARD

Failure to follow these instructions can result in death, fire, or electrical shock.

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.

Where a standard 2-prong wall outlet is encountered, it is your personal responsibility and obligation to have it replaced with a properly grounded 3-prong wall outlet. Do not use an adapter.

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

A 115 Volt AC, 60 Hz, 15- or 20-amp fused, grounded electrical supply is required. This provides the best performance and also prevents overloading house wiring circuits which could cause a fire hazard from overheated wires.

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

Immediately discontinue use of a damaged supply cord. If the supply cord is damaged, it must be replaced by a qualified service professional with an authorized service part from the manufacturer.

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

Proper Disposal of Your Old Refrigerator

⚠️ WARNING SUFFOCATION AND ENTRAPMENT HAZARD

Failure to follow these disposal instructions can result in death or serious injury.

IMPORTANT: Child entrapment and suffocation are not problems of the past. Junked or abandoned refrigerators or 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.

Refrigerant and Foam Disposal: Dispose of refrigerator in accordance with Federal and Local Regulations. Flammable refrigerant and insulation material used require special disposal procedures. Contact your local authorities for the environmentally safe disposal of your refrigerator.

Using the Refrigerator

Before First Use

  1. Remove all packaging materials. Keep them out of children's reach and dispose of them in an environmentally friendly manner.
  2. Clean the inside and outside of the appliance with water and a mild detergent before putting any food in it.
  3. After the appliance has been leveled and cleaned, wait for at least 2 hours before connecting it to the power supply.
  4. Cool the compartments at high settings before loading with food. The functions Turbo Cool and Turbo Freeze help to cool down the compartments quickly.
  5. The refrigerator temperature and freezer temperature are automatically set to 37°F (3°C) and 0°F (-18°C) respectively. These are the recommended settings. If desired, you can change these temperatures manually. Please see Controls section.

Controls

Diagram Description: The diagram shows the interior of the refrigerator with labels pointing to various components. These include: Temp Control Panel (displaying '88', with buttons for Fridge, Freezer, TempZone, Turbo Cool, Turbo Freeze, Mode, and Zone Select), Model/Serial # Plate, Light, Dairy Bins, Glass Shelves, Door Bins, Pocket Handles, Fresh Zone, Temp Zone, Freezer Drawers, and Leveling Legs.

Refrigerator Temperature Control

This refrigerator has 3 temperature zones: Fridge, Freezer, TempZone. Their temperature ranges are:

Your refrigerator will come with the recommended factory setting at 37°F (2.8°C) for Refrigerator, 0°F (-17.8°C) for Freezer, and 32°F (0°C) for TempZone pan. The temperature display will show the actual set temperature, and the zone light (Fridge, Freezer, or TempZone) will be on.

To adjust the temperature for each zone, press Zone Select. The selected zone light will be on. Keep pressing to toggle between the 3 temperature zones. The zone will be set after 3 seconds. Adjust the temperature by pressing Temp Control. The temperature display will show the temperature moving up as you press it. Once you find the temperature you want, the control will automatically set the refrigerator to this setting. You don't need to press any button.

TurboCool and TurboFreeze

During TurboCool, refrigerator temperature can reach 33°F (0.6°C). During TurboFreeze, freezer temperature can reach 13°F (-10.6°) if room temperature is above 73°F (22.8°C), or -7°F (-21.7°C) if room temperature is below 73°F (22.8°C).

To enter TurboCool or TurboFreeze, or both, press the Mode button. TurboCool will light up. If you leave without pressing any button, TurboCool will be set. Pressing the Mode button a second time will light up TurboFreeze; leave without pressing any button, TurboFreeze will be set. Pressing the Mode button a third time will light up both TurboCool and TurboFreeze; leave without pressing any button, both functions will be set.

To exit Turbo functions, press the Mode button again.

NOTE: During Turbo modes, the refrigerator or freezer temperature can be adjusted.

Lock

Press the lock symbol (?) and hold for 3 seconds. The circle around the lock symbol will light up, and the control display will be locked. Buttons will not be active.

To exit the lock, press the lock symbol again and hold for 3 seconds. The light around the lock will go off.

NOTE: The display will turn off after 30 seconds if the control display has not been touched. Touch any button on the control panel, and it will display again.

Sabbath Mode

Open the door when the display is locked, press the Zone Select and Temp Control simultaneously for 5 seconds to enter and exit Sabbath mode. Activate Sabbath Mode to turn off interior lights, temperature control, and advanced features. The compressor will run on a timed defrost when in Sabbath Mode. Sabbath Mode will last for 76 hours if you do not manually exit the mode.

Shelves and Pans

Adjustable Shelves

The height of the shelves can be adjusted to fit your storage needs.

To relocate a shelf:

  1. Lift the back edge of the shelf first and pull the shelf forward.
  2. To reinstall, put the shelf on the lugs on both sides and push it back until the shelf slides into the slots.

⚠️ CAUTION

Do not clean glass shelves or covers with warm water when they are cold. Glass shelves and covers may break if exposed to sudden temperature changes or impact, such as bumping or dropping. Tempered glass is designed to shatter into many small pieces if it breaks.

NOTE: Do not block air outlet by placing food items directly against it. Erratic temperatures may result.

Fresh Zone Pan

This pan can be used for storing vegetables, fruit, snacks, etc.

TempZone Pan

Adjust the pan temperature through the temperature control panel. This pan can have 3 temperature settings: 32°F, 34°F, 36°F (0°C, 1.1°C, 2.2°C) and can be used as meat, beverage, and deli storage.

To remove the TempZone pan:

  1. Pull out the pan (1).
  2. Lift the pan cover slightly (2).
  3. Tilt the pan up (3).
  4. Pull the pan out (4).

To remove the pan cover: Lift the back edge and pull forward.

Door Bins

Refrigerator Door Bins

The door bins can be removed for cleaning:

To remove:

  1. Place hands on each side of the bin and lift it upwards (1).
  2. Pull it out (2).

To reinstall the door bins, reverse the above steps.

Freezer Drawers

To remove:

  1. Pull out the drawer to the maximum extent.
  2. Lift the drawer and remove.
  3. For the second drawer, press and hold the stop limit (?) to release and pull out the 2nd drawer.

To reinstall the drawers, reverse the above steps.

Care and Cleaning

Cleaning the Outside

Directions for Cleaning Outside Surfaces, Door Handles, and Trim

DO USE DO NOT USE
Soft, clean cloth or sponge Abrasive cloths, scrubbing sponges, scouring or steel wool pads
Mild detergent mixed with warm water Abrasive powders or sprays
Approved stainless steel cleaners; Visit the Café Appliances parts store for approved stainless steel cleaners: geapplianceparts.com or call 877.959.8688 Window Sprays or Ammonia
Cleaners with oxalic acid such as Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser™ can be used to remove surface rust, tarnish and small blemishes on stainless steel surfaces only. Citrus or plant oil-based cleaners
Acidic or vinegar-based cleaners
Oven cleaners
Cleaners containing acetone (propanone)
Any cleaner with WARNING about plastic contact

NOTE: DO NOT allow stainless steel cleaner to come in contact with any plastic parts such as trim pieces, handle hardware and liners. If unintentional contact of cleaners with plastic parts does occur, clean plastic part with a sponge and mild detergent mixed with warm water.

Cleaning the Inside

To help prevent odors, leave an open box of baking soda in the refrigerator and freezer compartments.

Unplug the refrigerator before cleaning. If this is not practical, wring excess moisture out of sponge or cloth when cleaning around switches, lights, or controls.

Use warm water and baking soda solution—about a tablespoon (15 ml) of baking soda to a quart (1 liter) of water. This both cleans and neutralizes odors. Rinse and wipe dry.

After cleaning the door gaskets, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly to the door gaskets at the hinge side. This helps keep the gaskets from sticking and bending out of shape.

⚠️ CAUTION

Do not clean glass shelves or covers with warm water when they are cold. Glass shelves and covers may break if exposed to sudden temperature changes or impact, such as bumping or dropping. Tempered glass is designed to shatter into many small pieces if it breaks.

Do not wash any plastic refrigerator parts in the dishwasher.

Moving the Refrigerator

Be careful when moving the refrigerator away from the wall. All types of floor coverings can be damaged, particularly cushioned coverings and those with embossed surfaces.

Pull the refrigerator straight out and return it to position by pushing it straight in. Moving the refrigerator in a side direction, or leaning the unit to the corner to pull or push, may result in damage to the floor covering or refrigerator.

When pushing the refrigerator back, make sure you don't roll over the power cord or ice maker supply line (on some models).

Adjust leveling legs and make sure the unit is leveled.

Light

This refrigerator has LED lighting. Call service if the light is broken or goes out.

Care and Cleaning (Continued)

Preparing for Vacation

For long vacations or absences, remove food and unplug the refrigerator. This refrigerator will remember the current setting when you plug it in again. Clean the interior with a baking soda solution of one tablespoon (15 ml) of baking soda to one quart (1 liter) of water. Leave the doors open.

Preparing to Move

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

To prevent the doors from opening while moving, secure them to the case with tape. Be sure the refrigerator stays in an upright position during moving.

Models: GBE17HYRFS Bottom Freezer Refrigerators, GBE17HYRFS, GBE17HYRFS Freezer Refrigerators, Bottom Freezer Refrigerators, Freezer Refrigerators, Freezer, Refrigerators

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