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:

Beware of Beaches in Your Duct Work

December 21st, 2015 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

We live in Hammond, LA, which means our winters are very mild and our heaters see intermittent use at best. This actually makes an ideal time to look at problems that may be affecting your HVAC system’s efficiency, including breaches or breaks in your ducts. The duct work in your home exists to spread conditioned air from your system into your various rooms, nooks and crannies. When a breach opens up – due to damage in your ducts or perhaps the fittings between two sections of ductwork becoming loose – it can cause a great deal of trouble for your heating and air. Beware of breaches in your ductwork and be ready to get the issue addressed as quickly as possible.

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Common Heating Misconceptions That Could Cost you Money

December 14th, 2015 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

The holidays are here and with them comes cooler weather that necessitates regular use of your heating system. We’re not exactly buried in snow here in Hammond, LA, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need our heating units to keep us warm – especially at night – and our focus on air conditioning for most of the year leads many homeowners to discount the need for heating when it arises. Accordingly, you may have fallen prey to one or more common misconceptions about heating that could end up costing you money. We’ve listed a few of them for you to look out for.

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Why Is There Ice on My Heat Pump?

December 7th, 2015 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Heat pumps are common means of keeping out mild winters at bay here in Hammond, LA. They use the same basic design as a central air conditioner, but with a twist: the cycle can be “reversed” to heat your home in the winter as well as cooling it in the summer. Heat pumps work extremely well in towns that don’t experience a lot of freezing in the winter, and can save you a great deal on monthly bills. But like any other system trouble can crop up from time to time. Take ice, for example. You may notice that ice forms on the coils of your system, which might not seem like a big deal since it involves cooling. In truth, however, ice one your system is a big problem, and unless you deal with it swiftly, it can lead to lasting damage to your pump. Understanding why there’s ice on your heat pump can help explain why it’s a problem.

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Schedule Maintenance Sessions before Family and Friends Arrive

November 30th, 2015 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

With Thanksgiving over, you and your Hammond, LA household might be preparing for the next big round of the holiday season: Christmas. And with friends, relatives and other well-wishers heading over to your place for the Christmas season, the last thing you want is a big problem with your heater, air conditioner or indoor air quality system. Problems can crop up at any time, and while some can be spotted by an observant homeowner, others might catch you completely by surprise. If you haven’t scheduled a maintenance session for the various components in your HVAC system yet, you should do so now, before family and friends arrive.

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Things to Consider with a New Heater

November 16th, 2015 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

So you’ve decided to get a new heating system. Congratulations! If your old system isn’t doing the job anymore, you’ll be surprised at how much of a difference a new one makes, not only in terms of household comfort, but in terms of keeping your monthly heating bills under control. A good professional service here in Hammond, LA can install a new heater for you with efficiency and pride, as well as answering the countless questions and considerations you need to evaluate before scheduling the actual installation. Here are a few for you to think about.

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What Causes Your Furnace to Short Cycle?

November 9th, 2015 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Short cycling is the tendency of your home furnace to turn on and off rapidly numerous times throughout the day, often without adequately cooling your home first. It’s a big problem because furnaces use far more energy starting up than they do simply running. A short cycling furnace is wasting energy – costing you more in monthly heating bills – as well as elevating the chances of a serious breakdown occurring in the near future. Hammond, LA features mild winters, but our nights can still get pretty cold and the last thing you want is your heater suffering a repair call just when you need it the most. The good news is that a repair technician can usually solve the problem. But what causes your furnace to short cycle in the first place?

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Common Misconceptions about Your Thermostat

November 2nd, 2015 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Your thermostat is one of the most important components in your heating and air conditioning system, and yet despite its common use, many people hold popular misconceptions about the device. Those misconceptions can actually end up costing you money if you’re not careful, and here in Hammond, LA, monthly energy bills are nothing to take lightly. We’ve assembled a list of common misconceptions about your thermostat that we’re hoping to dispel, and put a little money back in your pocket in the process.

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Advantages of Heat Pumps

October 26th, 2015 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

A heat pump is a variant on the traditional air conditioner, but with a twist. Regular air conditioners cycle refrigerant through a closed system that cools the air in your Hammond, LA home, while releasing heated air as exhaust outside. Heat pumps simply allow that cycle to be reversed: releasing cool air outside while using the warm air to heat your home. They tend to cost more than other heating systems to install, and because they are more complex than others, repair bills can be more expensive too. So what’s the benefit to owning one? In point of fact there are a number, and they can easily offset the drawbacks. Here are some advantages of heat pumps that you ought to consider if you’re installing a new heating or air conditioning system.

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How Do Zone Control Systems Benefit Me?

October 19th, 2015 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Fall has finally arrived in Hammond, LA, and as your air conditioner sees less and less use (and your heater more and more use), it’s time to think about repairs or upgrades to your system. In particular, consider the advantages of a zone control system, which can provide a number of tangible benefits to both your air conditioning and your heating system. Installing such a system now makes a lot of sense, since temperatures are milder and you can set an installation schedule at your leisure instead of rushing to get it finished in front of the next heat wave or chilly night. “How do zone control systems benefit me?” you ask. Here’s a quick breakdown.

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Signs of Trouble with Your Thermostat

October 12th, 2015 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Your thermostat is designed to do its job without much fuss or bother, and because it doesn’t have a lot of moving parts, you can expect it to last for many years. But trouble can crop up when you least expect it, and your thermostat is no exception. When problems do arise, they can leave your Hammond, LA home without heating or air conditioning until it gets fixed. That’s why you should call in a trained technician the minute you spot signs of trouble with your thermostat. Here’s a short list of possible issues to help you make that determination.

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