HVAC in Kenwood

Kenwood at a glance

Kenwood is a small community of 852 people (2020) on the Sonoma Highway between Santa Rosa and Sonoma, in the upper Sonoma Valley, often called the Valley of the Moon. Bennett Mountain rises to the west and Sugarloaf Ridge to the northeast.

What that means for your heating and cooling

Valley homes on larger, rural lots are often far from gas lines, using propane or electric heat. Heat pumps are a strong option where there's no natural gas; see heat pumps.

Hot valley afternoons

The valley floor heats up quickly on summer afternoons and cools at night between the ridges. Outdoor units in full sun work hardest, so shade nearby, with clear airflow, helps. Ridges on both sides shade some homes in the late afternoon, while others on the valley floor take the full sun.

A railroad town

Kenwood sits on the old Rancho Los Guilicos land grant. In 1887 the Sonoma Land & Improvement Company laid out lots ahead of the railroad, and the community tried names like Rohrerville and Los Guilicos before settling on Kenwood. The First Congregational Church of Los Guilicos was built in 1888 and moved to its present site in 1893. Older buildings like these often need heating and cooling without new ducts, which is where ductless systems fit.