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:

Is a Heat Pump Right for You?

September 26th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Heating season doesn’t last long here in Hammond, LA, and you’ll likely continue to be using your air conditioner well into the fall. But if yours is on your last legs, now may be an excellent time to consider a replacement, with temperatures falling and the need for constant air conditioning lessened. In fact, if you have a traditional air conditioner and are looking for ways to include a heating system without paying for a full-bore furnace, we strongly recommend installing a heat pump instead. What is a heat pump and how does it work? We’ve included a quick breakdown below.

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Make Sure Your HVAC Technician Is Up to the Job

September 19th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

With the recent flooding here in the Covington, LA area, local homeowners have been quite busy facilitating repairs. Nowhere is that more important than with your air conditioner, which needs to be functioning at its best to provide you with the healthy and comfortable environment your household needs. The right repair service is essential to ensuring  that your system gets up and running again quickly. But how can you tell which service is up to the job? Here’s some key features to look for:

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Common Problems with Old Air Conditioners

September 12th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

We’ve still go some hot weather to come here in Walker, LA, where summers are long and winters brief. And with months of steady work already under its belt — to say nothing of possible problems caused with recent flooding — you  need to make sure your system is still running the way it should. This is especially the case with older systems, which may be showing more wear and tear than normal, and which are particularly vulnerable to breakdowns this time of year. Spotting a common problem with your old air conditioner can give you a jump on making repairs, and may even prevent a wholesale breakdown. The list of issues can include:

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Plan for Air Conditioning Replacement Now

September 5th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Madisonville, LA and other nearby communities have suffered massive devastation in the wake of the recent floods and homeowners are likely eyeing some significant repairs and improvements to their homes to bounce back from the damage. Your air conditioning system shouldn’t be left out of the equation, and while repairs may be possible for a damaged system, you can’t be sure of that with a disaster as large as this one. Now is the time to plan for air conditioning replacement, and the sooner you can move the better. Here are some things to keep in mind.

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Water Damage to Heaters and Air Conditioners

August 29th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

With floodwaters on everyone’s minds these past few weeks, residents of Hammond, LA haven’t had time for much else. When the water recedes and the time comes to assess the damage, you need to make sure your heater and air conditioning system are high on the list of priorities. Contact your insurance company to learn the next steps, but once you know how to proceed, you need a professional to handle any water damage to your heating and air conditioning system.

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Tips for Programming Your Thermostat

August 22nd, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

In the endless battle to keep your home cool during our sweltering Covington, LA summers, it’s important not to forget about your thermostat as a key tool. It controls your whole system after all, and just like the old-fashioned, VCR, people often refrain from using it because they think it’s too complicated. But the more you educate yourself about the thermostat, the more you’ll see just how invaluable it is for keeping your cooling costs down, and if yours has been around for 10 years or more, you can replace it with an up-to-date model fairly inexpensively to help you handle high monthly cooling costs. Here’s a quick breakdown of some tips and techniques to help you.

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Late Summer Ways to Help Your Air Conditioner

August 14th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Summers in Madisonville, LA always take a toll on your air conditioner, and with the dog days of August officially here, the need to keep it running every day is stronger than ever. But so too is the strain on the system already seeing daily use for months and with at least a few more weeks to go before temperatures finally drop off, your system is going to be put to the test. You can take some easy steps to ease that strain, with just a little effort and perhaps some help from a trained technician. 

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How to Spot a Duct Breach

August 8th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

If you have a centralized air conditioner, you’ll likely indeed to run it every day here in Hammond, LA. When problems arise, they need to be treated quickly, and not all of those problems are located in the air conditioner itself. If you have a centralized system, you rely on a series of ducts to get the cool air through your home. A breach in those ducts will pull the cool air out or mix unconditioned air in: forcing your system to work harder, raising your monthly bills and possible creating larger problems depending on the specifics. A good air conditioning repair service can seal the breaches in your ducts, but first you have to spot the problem. Here’s some easy ways of doing that.

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Should I Consider a Ductless Mini-Split System?

August 1st, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

If you’re in the market for a new air conditioning system, we know that you have to move quickly. The heat here in Walker, LA is brutal this time of year, and a replacement air conditioner may be your top priority. Depending upon your home, you might want to consider a ductless mini-split system in lieu of a traditional centralized air conditioning system. Why? There are a number of good reasons, though as always, the final decision is yours. Here’s a few facts to help you out.

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What SEER Ratings Mean for You

July 25th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

We often stress the importance of SEER ratings when determining which new air conditioner you should purchase. The rating is an easy way to determine the system’s efficiency, and after the power load (the amount of output the air conditioner generates), the SEER rating is the single most important factor in selecting an air conditioner. Here’s a quick analysis of what all that means for you.

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