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
March 18th, 2019 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
Ever year that our air conditioner runs, it loses a bit of its original operational efficiency. While we’d love to tell you that there’s an AC out there that always runs at 100%, it’s just not possible.
Instead, your next best option is to care for it regularly so that it can last for several years. What that means, exactly, can depend on where your system is during its lifespan, as well as your current situation in the home.
Spring is the perfect time to evaluate your HVAC system for any such services, so let us explain with some examples:
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Tags: AC Maintenance, AC Repair, ac replacement, Hammond
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off on AC Services to Start Spring Right
January 7th, 2019 | Written By James Barras | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
In the world of HVAC, air is money. You might as well imagine that every time your heater or air conditioner comes on, your dollar bills and quarters are shooting through the air ducts.
And if you keep on imagining that, add in the idea that your ducts could have holes and leaks in it. Your money would go flying out of those holes!
The reality isn’t so different. It’s estimated that up to 30% of your air can be lost through the presence of leaks and disconnects in your ductwork. That’s nearly one-third of your entire heating bill!
The ducts are out of place and hard to see, so we understand that you won’t be able to see the ducts. Instead, we’ll give you some signs to look out for when determining if you need duct sealing.
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Tags: Duct Sealing, Hammond
Posted in Indoor Air Quality | Comments Off on How to Tell It’s Time for Duct Sealing