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:

Common Misconceptions about Air Conditioning

May 9th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

We’re already into May here in Walker, LA and a warm spring is already promising a very hot summer. That means you’re going to need your air conditioner to function at its peak every day. Not only that, but you need it to do so without wasting any unnecessary energy or driving your bills up higher than they should go. Many homeowners harm their own cause on this front with some common misconceptions about how air conditioners work and the best way to make use of them. By clearing up those misconceptions, you can save yourself a lot of cost almost by default.

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Repair or Replace? How to Decide for Your Air Conditioner

May 2nd, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Whenever an air conditioner breaks down, you have to determine whether the cost is worthy it this time, or whether your system is in need of a full-bore replacement. Usually, you don’t need to ask that question until your existing air conditioner is more than 10 years old, but with summer on the way here in Hammond, LA, an older system may be put to the test sooner than you’d think. Ideally, you should make a determination now before trouble arises, but in the event you face an expensive repair bill, you may need to make the call on short notice. Every case is different, of course, but here’s a few tips to help you make the determination.

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Beneficial Air Conditioning Upgrades

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

A good air conditioner can be your best friend when summers hit here in Hammond, LA, and high temperatures combined with extreme humidity to turn our atmosphere into a steam bath. Unfortunately, it can cost a great deal in monthly bills to maintain a comfortable home, and while a new air conditioner may be able to do the job more efficiency, you may not be in a financial position to consider such an option.  An upgrade to your existing air conditioner, on the other hand, can improve its efficiency considerably, and may even help your system last longer than it might otherwise. We’ve provided a brief list of possible upgrades from you to consider below.

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The Value of a Programmable Thermostat

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

Here in Madisonville, LA, summers come early and stay late, which means your air conditioner will be put to the test every day for months on end. If you’ve kept yours properly maintained, it should perform without a hitch during that time, but you’re still going to have to reckon with comparatively high monthly bills that can eat you alive during the summer months. There are a number of ways you can cut into those costs, the simplest of which is the judicious use of a programmable thermostat. Here’s a few ways to make the most of your system through that.

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Ductless Mini Splits or Centralized Air?

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

If you’re in the market for a new air conditioner this spring, it pays to consider your options. Most homes here in Mandeville, LA rely on centralized air conditioners, but some use ductless mini plait systems, which space a number of smaller units throughout your home and cool each room individually. There are benefits and drawbacks to each system, which you should weigh carefully before proceeding. Obviously there are extenuating circumstances in some cases – if your home can’t support a system of ducts, for instance, then ductless mini-splits are usually the way to go – but if not, then you need to evaluate the pros and cons of each before making a decision.

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Why Should I Upgrade to an Air Conditioner with a Higher SEER Rating?

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

If you’re in the market for a new air conditioner, now is the time to buy. Spring has arrived in Ponchatoula, LA, and that means another sweltering Louisiana summer can’t be far behind. Replacing your air conditioner now gives you the time to perform the operation according to your timetable instead of scrambling to perform an installation in front of an oncoming heat wave. A new air conditioner requires you to carefully evaluate a number of different factors, not the least among them is a SEER rating. The term stands of Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and it measures how effectively your air conditioner uses energy. You should always buy a new air conditioner with a higher SEER rating than your old one. Why? Here’s a quick set of guidelines.

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There’s No Cold Air Coming Out of My Heat Pump!

March 28th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Heat pumps make great purchases here in Springfield, LA precisely because they work in all seasons. You’ve likely had yours in heating mode for the last few months, but warm weather is returning, which means you’ll soon be moving it over to cooling mode if you haven’t done so already. Imagine the unpleasant shock when you switch your heat pump over and discover that no cool air is coming out of your system. This is the time of year when people often discover cooling issues with their heat pumps, and while a good repair service can fix the problem swiftly, it helps to understands what the causes may be. Here are a few of them for your edification.

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What are the Benefits of Modular Rooftop Commercial HVAC Units?

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

Business owners and office managers in Destrehan, LA have to keep their space cool, not only to help attract customers, but to keep employees comfortable and happy as they go about their jobs. A quality commercial HVAC system is an absolute necessity in our climate, but where do you put such a large system on your property? The answer can usually be found on the root, where modular HVAC units can be placed to do their jobs. There’s a lot of huge benefits to that kind of set-up, which any prudent business owner should keep in mind.

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An Overheating Air Conditioner? It Could Happen!

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

It sounds like a paradox: your air conditioner, designed to keep things cool, runs into trouble when it overheats. But just like any other piece of complex machinery, stress and overwork could lead to certain components overheating, and all the cool air it generates won’t do a bit of good when that happens. Luckily, most air conditioners have an automatic shut-off system to prevent damage from such an occurrence, but that still leaves the issue to be resolved, and with temperatures already climbing here in Covington, LA, an overheating air conditioner could turn into a big problem very quickly. Here are a few potential causes of an air conditioner overheat for you to be aware of.

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Get Your Air Conditioner Ready for Spring

March 7th, 2016 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Spring comes earlier than ever here in Walker, LA, and when it hits, you want your air conditioner to be ready to go. That means getting ready now, when temperatures are still relatively low and you’re likely still using your heater on at least a semi-regular basis. With a few sensible bits of preparation, you can get your air conditioner ready for spring and ensure that it’s all set to go the minute you need it. Here’s a brief list of a few tips.

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