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
July 20th, 2020 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
That stuffy feeling you get every time you take a breath is not just you. Unknown to many homeowners, stuffy air is a symptom of a greater problem. Poor indoor air quality can affect every aspect of your life, making you feel uncomfortable, unhealthy, and upset. We want to address the problem with stuffy air here and now.
There are things that can be done, steps that can be taken, to mitigate your stuffy air. From an air purifier in Livingston, LA to an air filtration system, there are solutions that are right for every home and every budget.
If you’re ready to take the next few steps, then keep reading our blog post. We’re going to go into great detail about the various types of problems you can experience with your indoor air quality, what can be done about it, and where we come in to help.
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Tags: Air Purification, air purifier, IAQ, Indoor Air Quality, Livingston
Posted in Indoor Air Quality | Comments Off on Feeling Stuffy? Here’s Why
July 6th, 2020 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
When homeowners get their air conditioner installed, the first thought through their mind is usually, “Finally, it’s over!” Kick back, relax, and feel the cool air enter your home as you flip through television channels you deserve it!
Down the line, though, you’re going to encounter some problems. Air conditioners, just like any other piece of technical equipment, are going to need their fair share of repairs and maintenance. We’ve gone ahead and listed three of the easiest ways homeowners can be proactive in the health and longevity of their air conditioning systems. If you make sure to sign up for these services when the time comes, you’ll be set for the rest of your air conditioner’s life. You can also explore how regular AC maintenance helps homeowners to avoid costly breakdowns. Scheduling annual maintenance is a proactive step that helps prevent unexpected breakdowns and keeps your system running efficiently. Maintaining your cooling system, including components like evaporator coils and condensate lines, helps prevent breakdowns and enhances energy efficiency, especially during peak seasons. The benefits of regular AC maintenance include improved performance, a longer system lifespan, and lower repair costs. Additionally, many manufacturer warranties require regular maintenance to remain valid, making it even more important to stay on top of these services.
Make sure you call us for your air conditioning service in Madisonville, LA. We’ve got the tools and expertise necessary to get the job done right. Our services are also available in surrounding areas.
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Tags: AC Maintenance, AC Repair, Air Conditioning, Madisonville
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on 3 Important AC Services to Help Avoid Problems
June 22nd, 2020 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
We mention a lot on this blog about hiring a professional HVAC technician with the right credentials, but sometimes we don’t specify what those credentials are or what they mean. So, in the spirit of staying factual and keeping you in the loop, we’re going to zero in on some of the more notorious HVAC acronyms, talk about what these certifications mean, and advocate for why they’re so important to recognize.
Certifications matter, and more specifically, certain certifications matter more than others. If an amateur technician is willing to do a job for cheaper but the only qualifications they have to show for their expertise is a degree in computer science, then maybe you should reconsider.
Thankfully, all of the certifications we mention below can be found with our team. When you call us for air conditioning service in Hammond, LA, you get top-notch service.
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Tags: AC, Air Conditioning, HVAC, Mandeville
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on Which Certifications Matter in the AC Industry
June 12th, 2020 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
Vehicles are an important part of delivering quality service. When we drive from one end of town to the other, we’ve got to do it in style so that everyone can see who we are and what we’re about. That’s why it’s no surprise to us that we received an honorable mention in HVACR Business Magazine’s “Bright & Bold” vehicle design competition. The HVAC industry is a competitive one, which is why having the sleekest and most recognizable design on your trucks can take you a long way.
Our decision to upgrade our vehicle design and remain contemporary in the market wasn’t by accident. “We have 12 vehicles with the design, which cost about $3,500 each to do,” our owner, James Barras, said. “But people call in now just because they see the vans everywhere.”
As the judges said, our truck design is “simple, yet memorable” which is a great way to describe many of the services we offer. If you’ve been caught staring at one of our truck’s sleek designs, don’t just stop there! Give our team a call for whatever heating or air conditioning needs you might have.
When you need it done right, call Professional Heating & Air.
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Tags: Announcement, Hammond, HVAC
Posted in Announcement | Comments Off on Honorable Mention in HVACR Business Competition
June 8th, 2020 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
Air conditioners run for long periods of time during the summer. They don’t just run on magic, in fact, they run on electricity that is paid for ultimately by you! Just like you have to fill up your car every now and then with gasoline, you have to constantly pay for the stream of energy in your air conditioner to perform its job.
That being said, air conditioners aren’t built to consume that much energy. They’re usually manufactured to consume as little energy as possible, depending on the SEER rating of said unit, which can leave you paying only a small amount for quality cooling. The more advanced technology gets, the more efficient our cooling systems become.
If you’re looking for additional ways to save on your air conditioning in Hammond, LA then you’re going to have to look at why your bills are so high in the first place. Let’s take a look.
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Tags: AC, AC Efficiency, air conditioner efficiency, Air Conditioning, Covington
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on High Bills? Here’s Why
May 25th, 2020 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
Heat pumps are equipped with advanced technology that allows them to both cool and heat your home throughout the year. This is especially important now, at the end of spring, when temperatures are starting to get hot and we begin to turn on our air conditioners.
Nothing feels worse than trying to turn on your heat pump for the summer season and getting blasted with hot air. When you try to hit the reversing switch on your system, you get pushback and the panic sets in that your cooling system just doesn’t want to cool. What do you do?
We can talk about the common problems we see when this reversing valve gets stuck, but the most important thing for homeowners is to contact our team for air conditioning repair in Ponchatoula, LA. Only repair services by qualified, experienced technicians can fix the problem entirely and give you back your quality cooling.
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Tags: AC Repair, Air Conditioner Repair, Air Conditioning Repair, Ponchatoula
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on Is Your Reversing Valve Not Working?
April 27th, 2020 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
This post is for all the homeowners out there that see the word “refrigerant” and immediately turn the other way. We get it, you didn’t sign up for a science class when you purchased your air conditioner or heat pump, you just want to know what could go wrong with it and whether your money was well spent.
Well, part of learning whether or not you need air conditioning service in Ponchatoula, LA is learning about the system itself. From blower motors to electrical components, and yes, even refrigerant, getting a better idea of how these factor into the cooling process can help open your eyes to some problems that your own air conditioner is having.
So, let’s talk about refrigerant. What is it? How does it work? How can you tell if there’s a problem with your refrigerant line? We’ll try and answer these questions as easily and painlessly as possible.
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Tags: AC Repair, Air Conditioning Repair, Air Conditioning Service, refrigerant
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on Everything You Should Know About Refrigerant
