STROUDSBURG, Pa. — It's that time of year when the air conditioners get put into the window and cranked on high.
Assistant Fire Chief Mehmet Barzev at the Stroudsburg Fire Department says the department responds to calls for several types of fires in the summer months.
"It's not just throw it into the window and let it go. If we don't take care of these things, the machine is going to overheat," Barzev said.
"We also see fires from grilling, from AC, as well as fireworks fires, and things like that. But especially this week, we know people are going to be looking for ways to stay cool."
When installing an air conditioner to cool the house, Barzev says many people plug their air conditioners into a power strip, which can potentially cause a dangerous situation. He says it's best to plug big appliances like an air conditioner into an outlet.
"If you don't have an outlet nearby and you have to use an extension cord, make sure you are buying a rated cord specifically for the AC. You go to a home improvement store or an electric supply store; they should be able to give you the proper advice," Barzev said.
Officials say another thing to check on your AC is the air filter to keep the machine running efficiently and avoid overheating.
"If the air is not flowing through your machine, you are going to notice it's not getting colder, so folks who don't know to check the filter are probably going to keep turning down the temp and hope it gets cooler," Barzev added.
Officials with the Stroudsburg Fire Department also remind people to make sure there is a working fire extinguisher in your home.
Get the full Stormtracker 16 forecast HERE.
For the most up-to-date information on power, check these outage maps: