We’re still a few days away from the solstice, but if you ask us, summer’s already here. Of course, you’re free to delineate seasons the old-fashioned way, but in our view, there are a few telltale signs that summer has sprung. For one –– it’s getting humid and hot .

.. In fact, if it hasn’t felt like it yet, just buckle up.

New York and the entire Northeast are about to be hit with the season’s first heat wave . Have you spent the past few weeks sweating through your sheets, relying on your fan alone to get you through the night? Have you been frying while trying to wind down with some TV on the couch? Have you resorted to only making gazpacho in the kitchen to avoid turning on the burners (or, God forbid, the oven)? If so, it might be time to consider investing in the best air conditioner for your home — or better yet, two or three. Stuck on where to start on your new air conditioner journey? Worry not! We asked the experts at P.

C. Richard & Son about what to look for when purchasing an AC for your home and a walk-through of some of its favorite brands and models, all to help you land the best window or portable air conditioner to suit your specific needs. You wouldn’t try to heat your living room with a single candle, right? By the same token, you wouldn’t put a fireplace in your walk-in closet.

This is to say, the size of your space matters when it comes to heating and cooling. Before you start shopping, it’s pivotal to bust out your tape measure an.