Not every crane job is a commercial rooftop. On Monday, November 9, 2026, a Bill Boom boom truck pulled an old swamp cooler off the roof of a three-story home in downtown Denver and set a new mini-split unit in its place. We worked from the alley behind the house. No street closure and no traffic control, which kept the job simple and kept the cost down for the homeowner.
Why the alley matters
On a tight downtown lot, the question is always where the truck can sit. If the only spot is the street out front, the job usually needs a street occupancy permit and a lane closure with cones and signs, set up ahead of time. That adds about two weeks of lead time and real money before the crane ever shows up.
If the truck can work from the alley or from the customer’s own driveway or lot, none of that applies. The truck backs in, the outriggers go down on pads, and the lift happens from private access. On this job the alley ran right behind the garage, so the boom reached up and over to the roof from there.
How the swap went
- Back in and set up. The boom truck parked in the alley behind the garage with the outriggers down on wood pads to protect the concrete.
- Swamp cooler off. The crew on the roof disconnected the old cooler and rigged it in a sling. The crane lifted it clear and set it on the ground.
- Mini-split up. The new unit went up three stories the same way, to the spot where the cooler had been.
- Unhook and go. Once the new unit was set, the boom came in and the alley was clear again.
Each pick took minutes. A small boom truck is the right crane for this kind of work because it fits where a larger crane cannot, and it does not need a wide street to set up.
Swamp coolers and mini-splits
A lot of older Denver homes still have a swamp cooler on the roof, and many owners are replacing them with mini-splits or other air conditioning. The old cooler is bulky, often rusted, and awkward to carry down a ladder. The new equipment has to get up there without scuffing the roof or the stucco. A crane handles both in one visit, and the HVAC crew can spend its time on the install.
What to check before you call
If you are a homeowner or an HVAC contractor with a unit that has to go up on a house, these are the things that decide how easy the job is:
- Is there an alley, driveway, or lot the truck can use? Private access usually means no street closure and no traffic control.
- What is overhead? Power lines and tree limbs along an alley are the first thing we look at.
- How heavy is the unit, and how high is it going? The model number is enough for us to find the weight.
- Who is rigging and signaling? We run the crane. Your crew rigs the unit, signals the operator, and hooks and unhooks it, both on the roof and on the ground. We do not provide riggers or a signal person.
Send a photo of the alley or the back of the house when you call. It answers most of these in one look.
How to book a crane for a home in Denver
Call (303) 761-2666. There is no call center. The person who picks up knows the trucks and can tell you whether your alley or driveway works. Every lift is quoted on the phone. Bill Boom has been lifting in the Denver metro since 1965, for contractors and homeowners alike.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a street closure for a crane lift at my house in Denver?
Not if the crane can set up in an alley, driveway, or lot without blocking the street. If it has to sit in the street or close a lane, a street occupancy permit and traffic control are normally required, and that takes about two weeks to arrange. We can arrange the closure and pull the street permit for you, quoted separately from the lift. Permits for the HVAC work itself are separate and are handled by your contractor.
Can a crane remove a swamp cooler from a roof?
Yes. We bring the crane and the operator and make the lift. Your HVAC crew needs to supply the people who rig the unit and signal the operator, on the roof and on the ground, to hook and unhook it. We do not provide riggers or a signal person. With that crew in place, the old cooler is lifted straight off the roof and the new air conditioner or mini-split is set in the same visit.
Can a crane fit in a Denver alley?
A boom truck can fit in most of them. It is about the size of a delivery truck and needs room for its outriggers and a clear path overhead, away from power lines.
