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:

How do UV Germicidal Lights Work?

July 18th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Summers in Hammond, LA are full of high humidity, bacteria growth and the slow spread of germs and illnesses everywhere you turn. It can be tough keeping them at bay in your home, even with a quality air filter in your HVAC system. If you want to treat germs and bacteria in your home, consider the installation of a UV germicidal lights. How do UV germicidal lights work? Here’s a quick primer.

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Common Signs of Air Conditioning Problems

July 11th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Air conditioning is as much a necessity as a luxury here in Madisonville, LA. Our summers are brutally hot and without a reliable AC system, your home is apt to become an oven very quickly.  The sooner you can spot an air conditioning problem, the more quickly you can summon a repair service and the less vulnerable your home will be to high temperatures and humidity. Only a trained technician can properly diagnose problems with your air conditioner, and you need proper licensing to conduct repairs (refrigerant and other materials in the system are actively dangerous without training). That said, most problems with your system evince one of just a  tiny handful of symptoms, and if you can spot them, you know enough to turn off your air conditioners and summon a repair service. We’ve listed the common signs of air conditioning problems below.

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The Benefits of a Dehumidifier

July 4th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

If you live in Walker, LA, you don’t have to be told how much of a problem high humidity levels and be in the summertime. The moist air can feel like a wall, and if you can’t address the condition appropriately, then your home is apt to be adversely affected in a number of ways. High humidity prevents sweat from evaporating off of your body, making it feel hotter than it is and forcing your air conditioner to work harder than it should. 

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Common Air Conditioning Misconceptions

June 27th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Hammond, LA is a hot city, and we’re not just referring to the gumbo. High temperatures and stifling humidity are par of the course, and a reliable air conditioner can often be your best friend in the summer months.

But even if you have the most efficient air conditioner on the market, you could be wasting a huge amount of energy simply because you adhere to certain myths and misconceptions about how the system works. Air conditioners are staples of our homes, but they can be complex pieces of equipment, and being able to run one isn’t the same as knowing how they work. By dispensing with those myths, you can save a great deal of money on cooling costs.

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Benefits of a Heat Pump

June 20th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Here in Covington, LA, we’re used to relying on traditional centralized air conditioners to keep us cool during our sultry summer months. They’re an efficient and reliable system, but they’re not the only kind of air conditioner out there, and in some cases, an alternative type can be a better fit for your home. In particular, consider the benefits of a heat pump, which acts as both a heater and an air conditioner in one. It works in a manner very similar to traditional air conditioners, but with a few twists that can provide significant advantages to your home. Here’s a quick primer on how.

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Easy Steps for Air Conditioning Efficiency

June 13th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Summer has arrived — in deed if not in word– and here in Walker, LA, that means making sure your air conditioner is working at its very best. Timely repairs are part of that, but there are other steps you can take to keep your system running, and running efficiently. That last part is just as important as the first, for while your system need to be ready to go every day, that doesn’t mean it should cost you an arm and a leg in the process. You can take a few easy steps for air conditioning efficiency and ensure that this summer’s cooling bills don’t break your budget in half.

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Replace Your Aging Air Conditioner Today

June 6th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Spring is here in Hammond, LA, and we can already feel the heat index rising. You’re going to need your air conditioner to function every day, and if yours is starting to look a little long in the tooth, now is the time to do so. We’ve talked a lot about determining when you old air conditioner needs to be replaced, and we haven’t talked about the specific benefits you can enjoy by replacing an old air conditioner with a new one. Mot people adopt the notion of running their existing air conditioning system into the ground before replacing it, but if your system is struggling and its warranty has expired, there’s really no reason to wait.

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What is Short Cycling?

May 30th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

You may have heard the term “short cycling” used in conjunction with a problematic air conditioner before. It doesn’t sound like a big deal at first glance: an AC that shuts down shortly after turning on, only to turn back on again a few minutes later, then shut down, then turn back on again and so on. Considering the heat we have to deal with in Madisonville, LA every summer, it can be hard to spot something like that so long as the house is cool. In point of fact, however, it’s a serious problem demanding immediate attention.

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Leaking Refrigerant Spells Trouble for your AC

May 23rd, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

People often assume that air conditioners consumer refrigerant they way a car consumes oil. That’s not the case. Refrigerant actually is supposed to stay at certain set levels dictated by the make and model of your air conditioner. It cycles through an endless loop within the system, first releasing heat outside of your home, then pulling heat from the air within the unit, which can then be blown into your home with a fan. Leaks aren’t supposed to happen, but unfortunately they do. The good news is there’s steps you can take to address the problem the right way.

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How to Protect Your Home from Allergens

May 16th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Summers in Covington, LA mean more than just high heat. They mean high levels of humidity as well, plus a heaping fistful of allergens from pollen and similar sources. If you or someone in your family suffers from allergies, you home needs to be a haven from everything Louisiana can throw at you, and the cleaner you can keep your air, the better. there are specific steps you can take to help keep your home clear of allergens. If you’re interested, now is the time to implement them before the summer set in in earnest.

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