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
November 11th, 2019 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
This is a question we tend to see pretty often. It’s no doubt that most homeowners know by now that gas furnaces are the most popular heater in the United States, and for good reason! These systems are affordable, efficient, and reliably effective for the entirety of a cold winter.
However, sometimes that kind of “sales pitch” isn’t enough to convince homeowners that their home might be perfect for a new gas furnace. That’s why we’d like to get more into the specifics as to why a gas-powered furnace is so common. How affordable is furnace service in Laplace, LA? How efficiently do furnaces run compared to other heaters? What’s the difference in the quality of heat compared to other systems?
See? There’s a lot of ground to cover, so we might as well hit the ground running.
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Tags: Furnace, Heating Installation, Laplace
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on “Why Are Gas Furnaces So Common?”
October 28th, 2019 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
We’re not like northerners down here, when November arrives and the temperatures sit right around freezing, we need powerful heating fast. A proper functioning furnace is a mainstay for many homes in the Livingston area.
That being said, sometimes your home can suffer from a plethora of heating problems that aren’t necessarily the fault of your electric furnace in Livingston, LA. In fact, problems can arise from a faulty thermostat if you’re not careful. From worn-out batteries, to miscalibrations, to malfunctions, to just simple broken thermostats, these systems can be a nightmare and end up costing you money on wasted energy.
So, if your heating system is struggling to prepare for the coming winter, and you’re sure that it’s not a problem with your furnace, you might be dealing with a thermostat problem!
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Tags: Heating, Livingston, Thermostats
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Is Your Thermostat Costing You Money?
October 14th, 2019 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
It was the handyman in the observatory with the thermostat! Well, it seems that we haven’t found all the right clues to solve this air conditioner mystery. When it comes to AC repairs, it can be a long and excruciating game of “Clue” until you’re spending more money than you’d like. That’s why we’re the experts you should call!
So, it’s time to stop the guesswork and take a gander at some real clues that can mean your air conditioner needs some repairs. From spooky noises to unwelcome moisture, an air conditioner can start malfunctioning for a variety of reasons. That’s where we come in, with a dedicated team of home cooling experts who are ready to help you diagnose the problem with your air conditioning in Hammond, LA and perform the necessary fix as fast as possible.
With the help of a trusted technician, we’ll find the culprit of your AC issues and solve this mystery once and for all!
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Tags: AC Repair, Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Repair, Covington
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on The Mystery of the Broken Air Conditioner
September 30th, 2019 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
AC inefficiency sounds like a boring topic for a blog post, but we assure you it is not. Every time you see the word “inefficiency,” just think of “money,” since any amount of problems that hinder the capability of your air conditioner will eventually cost you money. If you’re unconcerned about wasting your hard-earned cash on a system that’s consuming more energy than it should, well… you’ve got us beat!
For everyone else, keep reading. We’ve got some clear signs that might signal when your air conditioner is running inefficiently. These lists can be important since they can clue in homeowners who aren’t well-versed in their AC unit as to when it’s really struggling. If these issues are ignored, you’ll be calling for AC repair in Hammond, LA which will cost even more money than you’d like to spend.
Air conditioners might not speak English, but luckily for you, we speak air conditioner. Let us translate their complaints for you!
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Tags: AC Repair, Air Conditioning, Air Conditioning Repair, Hammond
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on 3 Signs of AC Inefficiency
September 5th, 2019 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
If you’ve been looking to get in a few classes on AC and
refrigeration with the professionals, now is your chance! Lenny Rauch and our
owner, James Barras, will be new instructors for a technical class at North
Shore Technical Community College. This local trade school is excited to have
them starting with specialized classroom instruction and practical shop
experience to prepare individuals for employment as entry-level AC and
refrigeration technicians.
James will be teaching on Mondays and Tuesdays, while Lenny
will be teaching Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at the Hammond, Lacombe,
and Sullivan campuses. This new Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Program
will aim to push students to excel at the following:
- Evaluate refrigerant pressure and temperatures
in air conditioning systems.
- Use a schematic to troubleshoot an electrical
system.
- Measure the performance of a residential air
conditioning system.
- Troubleshoot a residential heating system.
- Adjust a commercial air conditioning unit.
This is a rare opportunity to see some seasoned AC and refrigeration veterans work their magic and teach anyone who is interested in the tricks of the trade. For those looking to complete the criteria needed for their Technical Diploma in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, and to share the knowledge of the experts in our area, sign up today!
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Tags: Announcement, Community, Hammond LA
Posted in Announcement | Comments Off on New Instructors on the Block!
September 2nd, 2019 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
If you’re in the market for a new generator, you might want to consider getting an energy audit before making the purchase. We know, there are a lot of misconceptions about energy audits that they’re only for businesses or major buildings and not for homes—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are several different types of home generators that could work for you, but your electrical systems might be too much for the generator you’re about to buy. How can you tell if that might happen?
Bingo! An energy audit will give a complete survey of how much energy you consume, as well as what systems are using the most and what devices you might consider not worth powering in the event that there’s a power outage. Overall, you might see yourself saving quite a bit of money after the whole process is finished, rather than get the wrong type of generator fitter for your house to only get stuck constantly calling for generator repair in Hammond, LA.
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Tags: energy audit, generator maintenance, Hammond, portable generators, whole house generators
Posted in Generators | Comments Off on Why Get an Energy Audit Before Purchasing a Generator?
August 19th, 2019 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
With the onslaught of thunderstorms coming this week and for the rest of the season, we’re definitely going to see an increase in generator purchases. With the climate changing, we’ve seen weather-related power outages double since 2003 and they’re only getting more severe. You’re lucky you’ve got your portable generator in the garage in case you lose power this season, right?
Well, you might not be as lucky as you think. Portable generators are meant for worksites, campsites, tailgating, and other—less power-intensive—energy needs. If you’re looking to power your whole house for a few days, including air conditioning, from the convenience of your smartphone, then you’re going to want to upgrade to a whole-house generator.
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Tags: Covington, generator repair, whole house generators
Posted in Generators | Comments Off on Why a Whole-House Generator Might Be Right for You
July 22nd, 2019 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
One thing’s for sure: when it comes to your air conditioner, you want to be absolutely sure that it is working as efficiently and as effectively as possible. But, how can you do this? Well, for one, you can consider making upgrades designed to enhance your cooling capabilities.
What are we talking about?
We are talking about adding a zone control system! Zone control gives you ultimate control over your cooling and heating systems, increasing efficiency and leaving you with more money on your pockets! Below, we have listed just some of the many reasons why you should consider installing a zone control system in your home. Keep reading to find out more.
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Tags: Air Conditioning Installation, Laplace, Zone Control, Zone Control Systems
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on Have You Thought About Zone Control?
