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

Latest Posts:

3 Furnace and Heat Pump Emergencies

February 18th, 2019 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
Technician inspecting internal wiring of a heat pump system during a repair service.

When it comes to using emergency services, people are naturally a bit hesitant. After all, they don’t want to sound the alarm for what turns out to be a simple problem or a misunderstanding. So unless you’re a heating expert in Hammond, LA, it can be difficult to know what to look for when it comes to a true HVAC emergency. If you’re upgrading soon, consider adding enhancements during AC installation to improve system safety and comfort.

That’s why we’ve compiled three emergencies you may face with your heater, regardless of whether you’re using a furnace or a heat pump.

Continue Reading

AC Services… At This Time of Year?

February 4th, 2019 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Part of our nation may be experiencing record-breaking cold temperatures, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be looking forward to the warm temperatures that spring and summer will inevitably bring.

Before those temperatures come may be the perfect time to have your air conditioner inspected! Here’s why:

Continue Reading

Here’s Why a Heat Pump Might Be Right for You

January 21st, 2019 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

heatpumpFor most of the country, gas furnaces are the number one heater of choice. They’re inexpensive to install, they heat the home quickly, and they’re reliable. We would know, because we happily install them!

However, we’ve found that the reason some homeowners use gas furnaces isn’t really due to personal preference. Many people just choose to stick with what they know instead of venturing out toward other options.

In this post, we’ll talk about the heat pump as one of your other options.

Continue Reading

How to Tell It’s Time for Duct Sealing

January 7th, 2019 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

duct-sealingIn 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.

Continue Reading

Ways to Lower Your Heating Costs

December 24th, 2018 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

dollar-signs-chimneyHaving a heater in the middle of winter sure is nice, but looking at huge heating bill isn’t! After installing your heater, it’s all about getting the most out of it with the lowest possible cost. But unfortunately, many people are running their heaters at less-than-amazing efficiency. But luckily they can change that by adopting some new habits or with the help of a few HVAC services.

Here’s what you can do to start lowering your monthly operational heating costs:

Continue Reading

Is An Electric Furnace Right for Me?

December 10th, 2018 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

woman-staying-warmFurnaces are one of the most common heaters in the country—and for good reason. They’re typically inexpensive, easy to install, and they heat the home quickly.

Of course, that doesn’t consider the differences between gas furnaces and electric furnaces. Gas furnaces are certainly the more common of the two, but if you’ve never considered the benefits of the electric variation, you might find that you’ve been missing out.

In this post, we’ll go over what makes an electric furnace stand out from the competition to help you see if it’s right for you.

Continue Reading

Replace Your Furnace Early to Save Money

November 26th, 2018 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

house-money-seesaw-savingsA good furnace will diligently provide you with quick and reliable heating for more than a decade. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and that means your furnace will need to be replaced one day. But it doesn’t have to come as a surprise. If you recognize the signs early on, you can get it replaced sooner to save hundreds of dollars in expenses. Here are some of the signs:

Continue Reading

Are These Indoor Air Quality Issues Killing Your Business?

November 12th, 2018 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

commercial-hvac-systemA commercial HVAC system is big, built to last, and requires complex planning. After all, bringing air to multiple floors or rooms efficiently is no easy feat.

While HVAC installation is one challenge, it ends with the completion of the installation. As for something like indoor air quality? Not the same story. Indoor air quality is a constant battle. And the reason you should care about it is that poor indoor air quality could be killing your business! Read on to find out how this is possible.

Continue Reading

3 Misconceptions About Gas Furnaces

October 29th, 2018 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

gas-burnerInstalling a gas furnace in Walker, LA is one thing, but the real game is all about how to reduce your energy expenses while staying cozy. This brings about many ideas thrown around about how to “hack” your system to perform better. Unfortunately, it also spreads around a lot of misconceptions about how heaters work.

More often than not, they’ll actually do more harm than good. We’ll talk about a few of them today so you can avoid bringing harm to your heater.

Continue Reading

Things You’ll Understand Only After Owning a Whole-House Generator

October 15th, 2018 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

happy-familyFor those who are hesitant about installing a whole-house generator, they often think about all the time that might be spent not using it. It’s a funny paradox, because ideally, you don’t want to have to use it… Yet, not using it makes it feel like you’ve spent money unwisely.

But for those who have had the chance to use it, they’re completely relieved. And from their experiences, they’ve realized a few things:

Continue Reading