Lots of older Denver houses heat with a boiler and radiators, baseboard heat or wall heaters, and have no ducts. Regular central air needs ducts. A ductless system doesn't.
A mini-split is a heat pump
A mini-split has indoor units in the rooms and one outdoor unit, joined by small copper lines. It cools in summer, and in winter the same unit runs in reverse to heat those rooms. In a house with an old boiler, adding cooling often upgrades the heating too.
One room or several
- A single-zone system has one indoor unit and one outdoor unit. It suits a hot upstairs bedroom, an addition or one open living area.
- A multi-zone system runs several indoor units from one outdoor unit, and each room gets its own setting.
Wall units mount high, near the ceiling. Floor consoles sit low, under a window or beside a fireplace. The lines leave through a small hole behind the unit and run down the outside wall in a cover to the outdoor unit, which sits on a stand or wall brackets above the snow.
Ducts in the attic
You can also add ducts overhead. A horizontal unit in the attic feeds a vent in each ceiling, so you get central air with nothing on the walls. It needs attic space and a place to drain, and we price it house by house.
What it costs
The price explorer shows prices for one room and for several. The number of rooms moves the price far more than square footage. Heat pumps also qualify for rebates, and Xcel changed its amounts on October 1, so check current rebates and the mini-split price guide.
To get your price, take photos of each room you want cooled, the outside walls behind them, the electrical panel and your heating system. Send photos or schedule an in-home estimate.
Common questions
Does a mini-split heat too?
Yes. A mini-split is a heat pump. In winter the outdoor unit runs in reverse and heats the same rooms it cools.
Do the radiators or baseboard heat have to go?
No, they can stay. Many people keep the boiler for the coldest days and let the heat pump do the rest.
How many indoor units do I need?
One for each room or open area you want cooled. Bedrooms with the doors closed usually each get their own.