I have a freezer model #ffu17fc4cw2 upright commercial unit that isnt freezing. It worked before transporting but was transported laying down on its side. I was told that the freon may have leaked out because of it being laid on its side, is this the reason its not freezing? If so, how hard is it to charge it up?.

The problem with laying down a fridge or freezer is the compressor lubricating oil can leave the compressor and enter the refrigerator tubing. It is best practice to allow these appliances to stand upright for a period before switching on to allow the oil to run back into the compressor.
Some people say four hours is sufficient and some say six hours. I suppose if some logic was injected into the situation it would depend of how long transportation has taken and the longer it has been horizontal the longer it should stand idle...

The following is the GE moving instructions. If you have started before the 24 hour rest period and the unit had been rotated from vertical have the compressor inspected.

FREEZER MOVING INSTRUCTIONS Please use the following steps when relocating an upright or chest freezer:

1. Disconnect the power cord from the wall receptacle.
2. Remove the food, defrost, and clean the freezer.
3. Use blankets to protect the freezer finish from scratches.
4. Place the freezer on its side for moving only if you have no other choice.
5. When transporting a freezer, keep it in an upright position. If transporting it in an upright position is not possible, lay it down on the compressor side of the unit. Be careful to secure the door to prevent it from opening.
6. If it has been transported on its side, set it right side up in its final location and allow the freezer to sit for the same amount of time that it was on its side (24 hrs max.). Do not plug the unit into the electrical receptacle without allowing this settling time. The unit can be damaged if it is plugged in prematurely.

If the unit was transported in an upright position there is no waiting time required.


Hope this helps?

Lay down a shipping blanket or an old blanket and transport the freezer on it's back.

Hello....First...when you transported the freezer...you must sure the unit stays in the vertical position and not laying on it's side...back..or front....If the freezer is making buzzing noises...adjust the thermostat setting down until the buzzing stops...and increase the setting gradually until the desired temp is reached...it could take 24 hours for it to stablize...I hope this was helpful.....PEACE.......

this is normal until all the freon has had a chance to get recirculated throgh the system.
make sure the evaporator fan is also working in order to properly cool the freezer.

You pluged it back in after you laid it doun. You needed to let it stand back up to let the freon to get to the condencer. You can try to unplug it for 2 days now to see if the freon will go back down or you might need to have it serviced now.

Good Luck

I would not lay it down but if you can get around it lay it down so the compressor is at the bottom. DO NOT TURN ON FOR 24 HOURS AFTER STANDING UP.

There should not be a fire hazard but you should be concerned that the freezer could break down if it is not allowed to vent the heat it produces. The freezer is not intended nor designed to be enclosed The manual must indicate specifications for minimum clearances for rear, top and sides, and may even be indicated on the big yellow sticker on the inside of the door. The clearances must be respected or again, the unit will fail, and the warranty may be voided in such cases.

Usually the compressor runs pretty warm anyway. However if you think it's too hot I would start with the condenser coils located either under the unit or on occasion they are located on the back. The air flow across these coils as well as the airflow around the compressor must be maintained. I forgot to ask if the condenser fan is running. Check and make sure that the Fan is running and the air flow is good. Also, When you transported the unit did you move it standing vertically like it normally stands or did you lay it on its side. If you transported the unit on its side you must wait a minimum of 24 to 48 hours prior to start up or the unit could be ruined permanently. The refrigerant has to be utilized through the compressor as a gas. If the unit is on its side liquid refrigerant could be introduced into the compressor and can cause permanent damage. If this is the case I recommend that you turn the unit off at once and wait the 36 hours for the Refrigerant to settle then try it again. This transportation rule applies for any appliance That uses refrigerant, Air Conditioners etc. These units are not that hard to diagnose. The only other item that is usually a problem is the defrost timer. It is not very expensive and can also cause some of the same symptoms that you are eluding to. The defrost timer allows the freezer to periodically shut down to prevent the buildup of frost or ice on he evaporator coils and on the inside the unit. If it is defective, then the unit will either run all the time and cause the evaporator coils to freeze up or will not allow the compressor to switch on and it will not freeze like it should.

The worst thing u can do to a refrig/freezer in transport is lay it down. Hopefully that is not the case as it would ruin your compressor. Otherwise, check for proper airflow (behind and underneath) to the condensor fan near the compressor (dust, etc. across condensor coils) ,check for proper door seals. Is the unit in a much warmer room than before? Defrost timer could be stuck in defrost ( or computer control for defrost , depending on model).