James Barras
Owner of Professional Heating & Air | HVAC Contractor and Louisiana Mechanical License Holder
Professional Overview
James Barras is the owner of Professional Heating & Air and has more than 20 years of HVAC experience. His background includes field work, formal HVAC education, apprenticeship training, federal facility experience, and 15 years building Professional Heating & Air. He leads the Hammond-based company with a focus on developing its people, improving service quality, and creating a positive workplace. His goal is continuous improvement that produces strong system service, a better customer experience, and long-term value for homeowners.
Quick Facts
Name: James Barras
Title: Owner of Professional Heating & Air
Experience: More than 20 years in HVAC; 15 years with Professional Heating & Air
Location and service areas: Hammond, Louisiana and Mandeville, Louisiana
Areas of focus: HVAC service, technician development, continuous company improvement, and delivering an exceptional experience for team members and customers
Experience & Leadership
James Barras began his HVAC career through an apprenticeship program after deciding to pursue a skilled trade that offered both technical challenges and the opportunity to eventually build a business. Over more than two decades in the industry, his experience has included working for two HVAC companies and serving as an HVAC technician for the federal government at a research building in New Orleans.
After gaining field experience and completing an HVAC degree through Delgado, James returned to Louisiana’s Northshore and started his own HVAC business from a garage in Ponchatoula. Over the following 15 years, he developed the business into Professional Heating & Air, serving customers in the Hammond and Mandeville areas.
As the owner of Professional Heating & Air, James focuses on improving how the business operates, developing the people within it, and creating a workplace where employees can succeed in a positive environment. The company’s stated mission is to empower its people to produce exceptional results through an elite company.
His leadership philosophy shapes both the company’s internal culture and its approach to customer service. He emphasizes continuous improvement, professionalism, strong team performance, and providing the best experience possible for employees and customers.
Technical Expertise
- HVAC systems and service
- Louisiana mechanical contracting
- HVAC technician field experience
- Apprenticeship-based HVAC trade training
- HVAC work in a federal research-building environment
- HVAC company operations and service delivery
- HVAC workforce development and technician growth
- Customer experience within an HVAC service business
Licenses & Certifications
- Louisiana State Mechanical License: #57241
- HVAC Degree: Delgado, New Orleans
Editorial Standards & Disclosures
Content attributed to James Barras draws on his real-world HVAC experience and professional industry knowledge. His author content is created with accuracy and homeowner clarity in mind, is subject to editorial oversight, and may be updated periodically as industry practices or company information change.
Editorial Policy
Last Updated
September 9, 2026
August 16th, 2021 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
There’s a misconception going around our community that the air filter in your air conditioner is a luxury item. To elaborate, some people think that it’s just there to help filter contaminants from your indoor air to make breathing easier and to make your home feel more comfortable. While they’re not wrong, they’re also not right.
The air filter in your AC serves a very important role in the functionality of your system and the cooling process in general. While it absolutely helps with your home’s indoor air quality, it’s integral to the power of your HVAC in Hammond, LA. Without a proper filter, you’d probably see a whole heap of problems develop based on indoor air contaminants and dirty coils.
Let us walk you through the intended purpose of these air filters, and why you should always clean them every one to three months.
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Tags: Air Conditioning, Covington, HVAC
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on Your AC’s Air Filter Is Important!
August 2nd, 2021 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
It’s no surprise that there’s been an uptick in DIY fixes on air conditioners in the past few years. With more people using the internet to find information, homeowners can easily come across tutorials and “quick fixes” complete with a whole guide and video to accompany them. It seems like the time of professional AC repairs is over, and anything can be done by a curious homeowner, right?
Absolutely not. DIY fixes can quickly become a hassle and even more costly than professional visits. Think about it, if you’re not experienced or trained, how do you know that you’re fixing the source of the issue at hand? How do you know you’ve got the right tools to fix a problem, or the right refrigerant to recharge your system? Just one minor slip up could lead to a completely broken down system and the need for expensive air conditioning repair in Hammond, LA.
Let’s talk about what homeowners shouldn’t do in the HVAC world.
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Tags: Air Conditioning Repair, Mandeville
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on 3 DIY AC Fixes to Stay Away From
July 19th, 2021 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
The term “replacement” is kind of a boogeyman in the HVAC industry. Homeowners want to keep running their air conditioners for as long as possible because they know that replacement costs a lot more money than a quick repair. While in theory this makes sense, in practice it actually doesn’t.
Replacement is an expensive service, but that’s because it’s built for long-term solutions that actually save money down the line. If your air conditioner has reached its limit, is beyond its standard life expectancy, or it’s just not working properly, replacement services are actually going to be better than an air conditioning repair in Hammond, LA.
Don’t worry, we’re going to break it down. We’ll talk all about when you should start thinking of replacement rather than repair. Keep this nifty guide handy so you’ve got something to reference as you check the condition of your AC.
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Tags: air conditioning repairs, Covington
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on When to Repair Vs. When to Replace
July 5th, 2021 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
This is a really good question and it’s going to depend on a variety of factors. For starters, the size and shape of your air conditioner will change how much repairs cost, since larger, more complex systems will require more extensive repairs when something goes wrong. Or, in the case of a refrigerant leak, the longer the repair need has been allowed to go on unaddressed, the more expensive it will likely be to fix. Avoid costly issues with AC services that prevent problems.
Today, our main focus is going to be highlighting some of these factors and making sure that you have ample time to address them. We promise you that if you can pay attention to your air conditioner and call us for prompt air conditioning repair in Hammond, LA, the price will be substantially lower than it would be if you were to neglect your unit.
Let’s take a look at how expensive your AC repair should be.
How much should AC repair cost according to the 5000 Rule?
AC repair is usually cost-effective if the unit’s age multiplied by the repair cost is less than 5000. For example, a 10-year-old system needing a $400 repair equals 4000, which suggests repair is worth it. If the result exceeds 5000, replacement may be the better option.
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Tags: AC Repair, Hammond
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on How Much Should AC Repair Cost?
June 21st, 2021 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
The efficiency of an air conditioner is one of its most important factors. With an inefficient air conditioning system, you could feel uncomfortable, frustrated at rising energy bills, and overall be considering replacement. While we are absolutely the team that can provide you with AC replacement, your air conditioner could be in good shape, it just needs some help.
When things get hot here, AC systems can struggle to cool a home off efficiently. We’re happy to get calls for air conditioning service in Hammond, LA, but what if we told you that there are things you can do in your home right now to boost efficiency and keep things comfortable?
Well, buckle up. We’re about to hit on some major ways that you can improve your air conditioning efficiency right now. Just make sure you call us if you have any questions about AC efficiency or a quick fix.
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Tags: Air Conditioning Service, Covington
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on 3 Major Tips to Improve AC Efficiency
June 7th, 2021 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
It’s natural as a homeowner to want to fix things on your own. It’s cheap, it can be fast, and you don’t need to deal with the hassle of calling someone and waiting for their response. We’re not trying to tell you that DIY repairs are bad. We’re trying to tell you that some DIY repairs can be bad in a variety of different ways.
If you want to keep changing the oil on your car, then by all means do so! In fact, we still recommend homeowners change out their HVAC air filters on a regular basis. This is something that’s simple and easy enough that even a person with no HVAC training can do it perfectly. However, this is a special case. Other air conditioning repairs in Laplace, LA need professional attention.
If you’re asking yourself, “Why would I need to call a professional for something simple like a quick fix?” Then we urge you to keep reading.
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Tags: air conditioning repairs, Laplace
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on 5 Reasons to ALWAYS Call a Professional
May 24th, 2021 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
Air conditioners depend on the use of refrigerant for the cooling process to take place. As it’s cycled from coil to coil, pressurized into a gas and a liquid, it moves heat around so that we can enjoy comfortable temperatures on the hottest days of the year. Without refrigerant, we’d still be relying on box fans and we’d probably be a lot grumpier throughout the summer.
That being said, refrigerant can be a touchy subject. For any homeowners who aren’t familiar, there are several different types of refrigerant and two of them are becoming household names. When it comes to air conditioning in Laplace, LA, there’s Freon and Puron, both different types of refrigerant that different homeowners depend on.
That being said, if you’re unsure as to which refrigerant your AC is using, or you’re unclear as to why there’s a difference, then we hope you’ll keep reading. There’s a big reason why homeowners should know their AC’s refrigerant type.
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Tags: Air Conditioning, Laplace
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on What Kind of Refrigerant Is YOUR AC Using?
April 26th, 2021 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
When your doctor asks how you’re doing at a routine check-up, do you say, “At least my body works.” While that might lead to an awkward conversation and a few follow-up questions, the point we’re trying to make is that doctors are more inclined to wonder how your body is doing, rather than if it’s just working at all.
The same goes for your air conditioner. Telling a professional from our team that it just “works” so there’s nothing that needs to be done isn’t really good enough anymore. AC systems all over our area are starting to struggle and homeowners don’t think there’s anything wrong with them until they start grinding and shutting down. At that point, it’s usually too late.
So, it’s time to talk about air conditioning repair in Hammond, LA. If your system isn’t working the way you want it to, then maybe there’s something our team can do to change that!
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Tags: Air Conditioning Repair, Covington
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on Your AC Shouldn’t “Just Work”
April 13th, 2021 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
We hear this comment a lot in the HVAC industry. We tell homeowners about the terrible problem of short cycling and what it could mean for their air conditioner, but they respond with “it still works, doesn’t it? What’s the big deal?”
Well, not only will we tell you what the big deal is, but we’ll also talk about why this deal is so big. Short cycling can signify a number of different problems occurring in your air conditioner. Some of them can be fixed quickly, and others will, unfortunately, require the entire replacement of the system. Yep, it’s that bad.
If you’ve gotten here because you think your AC is short cycling, and you need air conditioning repair in Hammond, LA, then you’re in the right place. Let’s talk about everything there is to know about short cycling, and make sure you call us if you still need help.
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Tags: AC Repair, Air Conditioning, Hammond
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on Short Cycling: What’s the Big Deal?
