Mini Split, Multi Split, and Ducted Heat Pumps: What’s Best for Your Home?
Do you need a whole-home HVAC upgrade or just a partial home solution? Understanding your heating and cooling needs and the options available will help you make an educated decision.
As more homeowners look for energy-efficient, electric heating and cooling solutions, heat pumps are leading the way. Heat pumps are a flexible technology that can be designed and sized to fit your exact needs. But when it comes to deciding between whole-home or partial-home installations, how do you know which setup is right for you?
In this guide, we’ll break down the differences between mini split, multi split and ducted systems, how they fit into various home layouts, and how they can even work alongside gas furnaces in dual fuel systems. Whether you're adding cooling/ heating to a single room or upgrading the HVAC of your entire house, understanding these options is the first step toward comfort and savings.
🏠 What are Whole Home vs Partial Home HVAC Issues?
Industry jargon alert! While it’s pretty self-evident, we want to make sure you’re armed to have the most productive conversations — though at Zero Homes, you can count on us making sure everything is as crystal clear as possible.
So, when planning your heating and cooling setup, the contractor or system designer will need to consider how much of your home you want to serve:
🧱 Partial Home Heating & Cooling (Spot Solutions)
When you’re trying to solve a heating and/or cooling problem in one particular space, you’re looking for a partial home solution. This includes spaces with unique comfort needs, like finished basements, converted attics or garages, and home additions or sunrooms
🏡 Whole Home Solutions
If you are looking to upgrade your existing HVAC system or electrify the entire home, you’re (unsurprisingly) going to be looking for a whole home solution.
🔄 Ducted vs. Ductless Heat Pump Systems: What's the Difference?
When discussing heat pump systems for your home, one of the first decisions you'll face is whether to go ducted or ductless. The difference lies in how the conditioned air is distributed throughout your home.
Ducted systems use a network of air ducts—typically hidden in walls, ceilings, or floors—to deliver heating and cooling from a central indoor unit to different parts of the house. If your home already has ductwork in place (from a furnace or central AC), a ducted heat pump can often tie in seamlessly. These systems provide a more traditional look, with air coming through discreet vents.
Ductless systems don’t require ductwork at all. Instead, they rely on one or more compact indoor air handlers that are mounted on walls, ceilings, or even recessed into the ceiling. Each unit conditions the room it’s installed in, offering direct, zoned comfort. Ductless systems are ideal for homes without existing ducts or for specific areas like additions or finished basements.
Both ducted and ductless heat pumps offer high energy efficiency and reliable comfort. Your choice depends on your home’s existing infrastructure, your aesthetic preferences, and whether you're upgrading the whole house or just targeting specific zones.
🔍 What’s the Difference Between a Mini Split and a Multi Split?
Mini split and multi split refer to types of heat pump systems that may not rely on traditional ductwork. Instead, they use refrigerant lines to connect indoor air handlers directly to an outdoor unit. Both of these designs can be ductless, which means they can operate independently from your central system, avoiding the need for costly ductwork extensions. (If you want to understand more about how heat pumps work in general, check out our Heat Pump 101 Guide.)
➤ Mini Split (Single Zone Heat Pump)
One outdoor unit connected to one indoor air handler
Mini splits are always ductless
Ideal for:
Additions, finished basements, finished attics, garages
Rooms with comfort issues or no duct access
Home offices or in-law suites
Key advantage: Simple and cost-effective for targeting specific areas without overhauling your entire HVAC system.
➤ Multi Split (Multi-Zone Heat Pump)
One outdoor unit connected to two or more indoor units
Multi splits can be ductless or connect into a ducted system
Each zone is independently controlled, offering room-by-room comfort
Ideal for:
Whole-home ductless solutions
Multi-story homes or homes with varied occupancy patterns
Energy-conscious homeowners looking to zone their HVAC
Key advantage: Tailored, room-by-room comfort across the home, often with higher efficiency and lower operating costs than central systems. They are also useful in homes without existing ducts (ductless) or with old ducts needing replacement.
No matter your current HVAC project, heat pumps — mini or multi split — provide quiet, clean, and cost-effective heating and cooling.
🔁 How Dual Fuel Systems Fit In
Worried about cold weather performance? While cold climate heat pumps work efficiently down to -5 degrees F, some homeowners still opt for a dual fuel system. This design pairs a heat pump with your existing gas, oil or propane furnace to offer year-round comfort with flexible fuel options.
🔌+🔥 How It Works:
Your ductless or ducted heat pump provides efficient heating most of the year.
When outdoor temperatures dip below a certain threshold, your furnace kicks in as a backup.
This gives you the best of both worlds: clean electric heat and the confidence of a backup during the coldest snaps in Colorado, Minnesota and elsewhere.
At Zero Homes, we specialize in designing dual fuel heat pump systems that balance comfort, efficiency, and cost—tailored to your home’s structure and your comfort preferences.
💡 Why Heat Pumps (Either Ducted, Mini Split or Multi Split) Are Smart Choices
✅ Zoned comfort with individual temperature control per room
✅ Energy savings from high-efficiency, inverter-driven compressors
✅ Quiet operation and sleek indoor unit designs
✅ No ducts required if your home doesn’t have any or are they’re old and leaky
✅ Incentive-ready with many models qualifying for rebates and tax credits in Colorado, Minnesota and more
🔧 Zero Homes, Your Local Heat Pump Experts, Make It Easy
Our in-house experts use advanced software to help you determine:
Whether a ducted, mini split or multi split system is best for your space
If a whole-home or partial-home solution fits your goals
Whether to go ductless or integrate with your existing system
How to maximize incentives through Xcel Energy, Colorado tax credits, and other programs
We make it easy to get high-quality heat pump designs and top-notch installs at the most affordable price. No shortcuts, not compromises — just a job excellently done.
📞 Ready to Explore Heat Pump Options?
Zero Homes helps homeowners make the right decision — whether it’s a single-room mini split, a full multi split upgrade, a ducted heat pump retrofit, or a dual fuel system. We handle everything from design to installation to rebates.
Contact us today to start your heat pump journey with confidence and clarity.
