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
January 4th, 2021 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
We’ve got news for all you homeowners out there—sometimes heaters can smell. While there might be acceptable times for a smell to occur, like when you run your heater for the first time of the year and it burns off the dust that’s collected on it, most of the time it’s a bad thing. Using your nose can be a great way to discern when there’s something clearly wrong with your heating system.
No, this isn’t just for people with gas furnaces, this blog post is for anyone with a heating system! Heat pumps and gas furnaces alike can require heating repair in Mandeville, LA due to problems that cause bad smells. We’d just like to help get you on the right track so you know how to notice them and what to look out for. We’ll explain what these smells signify, how bad they can become when they’re neglected, and what you should do about them.
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Tags: heater repair, Heating Repair, heating service
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on What’s That Smell?
December 21st, 2020 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
We’re getting into the dead of winter, when heaters are most likely to fail and cause stressful problems at home. We’re not saying this to scare or alarm anyone, we’re only saying this to reinforce homeowners who are doing their best to keep their heaters working properly. If you need heating repair in Mandeville, LA, then be sure to call for professional help when needed.
Hold on, how are you supposed to even know that you need heater repair? Isn’t this a little complicated of a subject? Your heater might be making noises, but how do you know if they’re bad enough for a professional to check out?
Don’t worry, we’ll let you in on our experience in the field. Keep reading as we get into seven important reasons to call for heater repair this winter. If you recognize any of these, or feel the need to call us because of something else, we’re here!
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Tags: Furnace Repair, heater repair, heater service, Heating Repair, Mandeville
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on 7 Reasons to Call for Heater Repair
December 7th, 2020 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
This is an important topic to go over. Gas furnaces are the most common furnace type, not just in our area, but all over the country. If we tried to have homeowners switch from their beloved gas furnaces to a different system, they could lose out on a lot of savings and reliable heating. We encourage you to keep your gas furnace system running effectively, as long as you remember the following three points.
We’re about to go over some major things to remember when it comes to heating in Hammond, LA. If you’re not well-acquainted with these points, or you need help with the functionality, efficiency, and safety of your gas furnace, then don’t hesitate to call us for help. Gas furnace owners should be well aware of how to handle their systems, and with more knowledge comes more responsible action when things do go wrong.
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Tags: Furnace Repair, Hammond, Heating Repair
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on 3 Things to Remember for Gas Furnace Owners
November 23rd, 2020 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
Sometimes there’s a bit of a cycle we witness that goes on in the homes of our customers. At first, a customer has a problem with a heater that we then promptly fix. After that, there’s a problem with comfort levels, we try to pinpoint in the heater, only to find out that it’s a problem with the thermostat. Eventually, by the time the thermostat is upgraded, there’s a problem again with the heater. This cycle can happen over months, years, or even decades.
Today, we’d like to talk about why thermostats are so important to this cycle, in regards to heating in Mandeville, LA. Thermostats, just like heaters, have an important duty in your home’s comfort, and the moment you forget that you’ll run into an issue that you’d rather avoid.
So, how does your heater, your thermostat, and your comfort all work together seamlessly? Keep reading to find out!
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Tags: heater, heating services, Mandeville, smart thermostats
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Your Thermostat, Your Heater, and You
November 9th, 2020 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
You probably enjoy reading this blog. We fill it jam-packed with helpful information about your heater, air conditioner, and other HVAC systems. We always make sure to fact check our information and give you our thoughts as pros in the industry—without forcing you to buy our services. That’s a pretty good deal, right?
Well, there’s a reason why we do that. Sure, we love to help those members of the community when they need the opinion of an HVAC contractor in Covington, LA, but that’s not the biggest reason why we share our info on this blog. We’re mainly writing this blog to point out one glaring difference that becomes clear when talking to us and other companies in the HVAC field. We’re just better suited to service your heater than others.
Want to know why? Keep reading as we’ll give you five great reasons.
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Tags: Covington, heater repair, heating service, HVAC, HVAC contractor
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on 4 Reasons Why Our Heating Service Is Worth It
October 30th, 2020 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
‘Tis the season to be grateful for all the friends, family, and other loved ones we’re constantly surrounded by. What would be a better way to show our gratitude towards this community, than by starting a November food drive? We’re offering $10 for each can donated by each customer, up to $30 total off of your next service ticket!
Are you in the mood to do something that makes you warm and fuzzy inside, while also help to lower your HVAC service bill? Then let’s start donating what we can to provide for the people in need. We can work together to start combatting hunger in the Hammond community, so be sure to contact us to get more info!
Don’t forget, when you need it done right, call Professional Heating & Air!
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Tags: Announcement, food drive
Posted in Announcement | Comments Off on We’re Having a November Food Drive!
October 26th, 2020 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
Cycles, it’s all about cycles! What are we talking about? Well, you’ve got the water cycle taking care of your plants in your garden, the planetary cycle keeping the seasons in check, and the cycle of your heater keeping things comfortable in your home! Wait, you don’t know about that last part?
Heaters, just like air conditioners, run on cycles in order to keep things at the temperatures specified on your thermostat. By using a specific amount of energy or natural gas, they can produce enough heat to meet the requirements of your home and then shut off for a period of time. When cycled correctly, a heater will keep you comfortable with minimal energy or fuel consumption. If your heater is not cycling correctly, then you might need help with your HVAC in Covington, LA.
Keep reading as we get into the details about how heater cycling works.
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Tags: Covington, heater repair, heating service
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Is Your Heater Struggling to Cycle Properly?
October 12th, 2020 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
There are very few things in this world that are as frustrating as an ancient heater that’s constantly breaking down, costing a lot of money, and barely keeping you warm. In fact, we’d argue that it’s probably the most annoying thing we experience in our industry. Homeowners deserve to be warm and cozy during the incoming holiday season, not panic calling their HVAC technician as they can’t feel their toes. That’s where we want to start this blog post.
Old heaters can cost a lot more than you might be willing to pay for. Homeowners groan when it comes to heater replacement because of how initially expensive it can be, but it’s really worth it. Services for your HVAC in Hammond, LA are all about long-term solutions that are bound to keep you satisfied and financially feeling good.
Let’s evaluate whether or not your heater is good enough to keep.
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Tags: Hammond, heater, Heating, HVAC
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on How Much Money Is Your Old Heater Costing You?
September 28th, 2020 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
So the first day of fall has come and gone. You’ve probably played around with your heater a little bit to ensure it will work during the cooler temperatures ahead. Everyone has their own heater ritual when fall comes around. Perhaps you turn it way up to 80 degrees for a few minutes to ensure it produces a powerful flow of heat. Or, perhaps you just check to see it turns on at all—either way, it’s up to you to responsibly start working with your heater to get your comfort levels right.
However, sometimes there are peculiar scents that waft through your vents. These scents can be concerning. Whether or not they are normal or require furnace repair in Hammond, LA is up to the opinion of a sensible HVAC technician. Luckily, that’s who we are!
Keep reading as we talk about some of the smells a heater can make, and what you should be wary of.
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Tags: Furnace Repair, Hammond, heater repair, heater service
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on The Smell of a Struggling Heater
