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:

Heat Pump Repairs We Often See in the Winter

December 16th, 2013 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Although we usually experience mild winters in Louisiana, we still have many chilly days and chillier nights when we will need a sturdy heater keeping us warm. Heat pumps make great home heating options, since they also provide the important air conditioning we need during the summer, and can handle the level of cold during the winter without losing efficiency.

Because you’ll have more use from your heat pump during the summer when it stays in cooling mode, it’s more likely to malfunction during that time. But winter brings its share of repair issues for heat pumps as well. Here are some of the ones we often see at this time of year. If you need heating repair service in Kenner, LA for a heat pump—or any type of heater—you can rely on the 24-hour service of the professionals at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning.

Common heat pump repairs

  • Sealing leaks and recharging refrigerant: Although people associate the word “refrigerant” with cold temperatures, not with heating, the refrigerant that runs through your heat pump is just as vital during the winter. If leaks develop along the refrigerant line, it will reduce the system’s heating capacity. A repair technician will need to find the leak, seal it, and then recharge the refrigerant level.
  • Fixing outdoor fans: Winter weather can be cruel to the outdoor unit of your heat pump, and we often have to repair damage done to the fan that draws air across the outdoor coil so it can absorb heat. If the fan breaks or develops bent blades, it could cause the system to lose its heating power.
  • Replacing broken reversing valves: The key component that allows a heat pump to switch between heating and cooling modes is the reversing valve, which changes the direction of the flow of refrigerant. It’s an unpleasant surprise for a homeowner to discover on the first day he or she needs heating power that the heat pump can’t switch functions—and usually it’s because of a broken valve. Fortunately, this is a simple fix for professionals, who will find the right heating valve replacement to match the heat pump.

Heat pump repair requires special training and tools. On your own, you wouldn’t know the correct kind of refrigerant to use to recharge a leaking unit, for example. Trust to heating professionals, such as those at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning, to handle any trouble you may experience with your heat pump. We aim for complete customer satisfaction in all our work doing heating repair in Kenner, LA.

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Noises Your Heater Should Not Make

December 9th, 2013 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

During the colder months of the winter, the sound of a heating system form a part of the general “white noise” in a home: something you don’t notice much, but which serves as a subconscious and soothing background sound. When your heater makes a noise that suddenly draws your attention, you’ll probably suspect that something is wrong.

Most unusual noises are warnings that you need an HVAC specialist to investigate your heating system to see if it requires repair work. Don’t procrastinate, since the repairs will only get more complicated and expensive if you let them slide—and some might turn dangerous.

Here are a few heating system sounds that you definitely should not hear. If you do, call A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning for professional heating repair service in Metairie, LA.

Heating system warning sounds

  • Booming/grumbling: If you have a gas furnace, these noises often indicate there is too much dirt along the burner, and the gas jets or pilots light cannot get enough air to ignite. You will need a professional to remove the burner unit and clean it.
  • Grinding: This sort of sound coming from a furnace cabinet is often a warning that the motors are running down because of worn parts. Usually, the motors will need to be replaced.
  • Screeching: The bearings on the motors are wearing down, possibly due to a dust infiltration. This needs attention before the whole motor requires replacement.
  • Clacking: Any noise that sounds like one component is striking against another might mean that a blower motor fan belt has come loose and is hitting other mechanisms inside the cabinet. This needs repair immediately before the loose belt causes further damage.
  • Clicking before the blower motor comes on: Although hearing a few clicking sounds as a gas furnace starts up is normal, if you hear a loud clicking about a minute and a half before the blower motor turns on, it might mean a crack in the heat exchanger—which could lead to a leak of carbon monoxide. If you suspect this has happened, shut off the gas to the furnace and call for repairs immediately.

Heating systems do not yet come equipped with artificial intelligences that can exactly inform you about a malfunction and what to do about it. However, these sounds listed above are the next best thing: when you hear them, bring in a human intelligence—a professional technician—to find out what is wrong and what to do about it.

A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning aims to deliver complete satisfaction with your heating repair in Metairie, LA. If your heater starts to warn you that something is wrong, call us.

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How Often Does My Heater Need Professional Care?

December 2nd, 2013 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

If you’re asking this question, you’ve already made a positive step: you know your heating system requires professional attention in order for it to work its best. Any mechanical device needs service and care, as well as repairs, occasionally. However, you may wonder exactly how often you will need professional work on your heating system.

In this post, we will give you two specific answers to that question. When you need professional heating service in Hammond, LA, call us at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning to get the expert and personal touch that will take care of your heater.

You should schedule professional care for your heater…

  • Annually. Heating systems, regardless of durability, should have a maintenance visit once a year. Twelve months is more than enough time for a heating system to develop kinks and flaws that will begin to cause it to work less efficiently—and eventually lead to a breakdown. A maintenance visit will check, clean, and tune-up your system so it can soldier through another year with the fewest problems possible. Maintenance will also catch possible repair needs before they become serious or expand into more expensive repairs. Enroll in a maintenance program from a dependable HVAC contractor, and you’ll have your heater’s care covered every year.
  • Whenever something seems wrong. Don’t wait for any problem with your heater to get worse. The moment the heating system in your house begins to display irregular behavior—odd smells from the vents, strange grinding and clicking sounds, uneven heating, a drop in air flow, an unexplained increase on your heating bills—you need to have experts come in to inspect it. Letting any of these problems continue will lead to more expensive repairs later and a possible unexpected and inconvenient breakdown. It will also reduce the lifespan of your system.

Keep your heater in good shape for the winter

If you need repairs, or if you want to start with maintenance, act now before the weather turns colder. HVAC professionals will have busier schedules when the thermometer drops and people require heating services, so take advantage of the current slower season.

At A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning, we make it our goal to deliver you 100% satisfaction with our work. You can trust us to give your heating system in Hammond, LA quality care so it will keep working for you for many years with few repair service calls. Call us today to enroll in our maintenance program, or call us any time of the day or night for emergency services.

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Hire a Pro to Handle Your Repairs and Installations

November 27th, 2013 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

We know it’s a big responsibility owning a home or commercial space, but at A-Professional Heating & Air Conditioning, we strive to make it easier on you. Whether your home’s air conditioning or heating unit needs to be replaced or your commercial units needs a repair, you can count on us to provide you with exceptional customer service and workmanship. Having a comfortable space year round is important, especially living in Hammond, LA where the temperatures can be extreme. Call us today to schedule an appointment or schedule service online.

Commercial unit residential units

 

 

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Thanksgiving, 2013: The Presidential Turkey Pardon

November 25th, 2013 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Thanksgiving began in 1621, but didn’t become a national holiday until 1863, when Abraham Lincoln declared it in hopes of bringing a divided nation together. We have many Thanksgiving traditions in this country, from turkey at the meal to the annual Cowboys and Lions games on television. But one of the most beloved is the annual Presidential turkey pardon, in which the U.S. President “pardons” a turkey to life in a petting zoo rather than ending up as someone’s main course. As we celebrate this Thanksgiving, we thought you’d like to know a little more about the history of this fascinating tradition.

Farmers have sent turkeys to the White House as far back as the 1800s, hoping to have the honor of providing the President’s annual meal. There have been scattered stories of individual turkeys being “pardoned” throughout that time, including one in which President Lincoln’s son Tad successfully convinced the president to spare a bird intended for the family’s Christmas dinner.

Starting in 1947, the National Turkey Federation became the official supplier of the President’s Thanksgiving birds. The White House arranged for an annual photo op that year with the President receiving the turkey in the Rose Garden. Sadly, there was no pardon as yet; those birds all ended up on the Presidential table.

The push for an official pardon picked up steam in 1963, when President Kennedy ask that the bird be spared just a few days before his assassination. President Nixon opted to send each of the birds he received to a nearby petting zoo after the photo op, though there was no formal pardon attached.

But it wasn’t until 1989 that the pardon became official. On November 14 of that year, President George H. W. Bush made the announcement, and sent the bird to a Virginia game preserve to live the rest of its life out in cranberry-and-stuffing-free bliss. Since then, every President has held an annual pardoning ceremony, with the lucky turkey spared the axe and sent off to live in peace. Since 2005, the pardoned birds have gone to Disneyland in Anaheim, California where they have lived as part of a petting zoo exhibit in Frontierland.

No matter what traditions you enjoy this holiday, or who you enjoy them with, all of us here wish you a peaceful and happy Thanksgiving weekend.

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The Benefits of Professional Duct Cleaning

November 18th, 2013 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Cleaning your ductwork sounds like an enormous amount of work. And it is, we won’t lie to you about that. However, you need to have it done for a number of important reasons, which we’ll outline here for you. But you don’t need to do the hard work; in fact, it’s better if you don’t. Leave the job of duct cleaning in Hammond, LA to experts. A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning offers comprehensive duct cleaning in Hammond, LA, in addition to other services that will improve your indoor air quality and your HVAC system’s performance.

Here are the major benefits of professional duct cleaning:

Improved air quality

Because Americans on average spend 85% of their time indoors, the quality of the air inside homes and buildings is especially important. The U.S. Department of Health has determined that poor indoor air quality is one of the major health threats in the country.

One way that you can improve the quality of the air you breathe in your home is with annual duct cleaning. Because your ducts are sealed along their length, there isn’t anywhere for the dust inside them to escape once it starts building up. A faulty or clogged air filter will also cause more dust contamination—and eventually this will blow out through your vents. A thorough cleaning will cleanse these pollutants and improve the air you breathe daily.

Better energy efficiency

Ducts covered with dust will increase resistance to the air moving through them. This will force your air conditioner and heater to labor harder. The more stress placed on your HVAC system, the faster it will wear down and require repairs, or even a full replacement.

A cleaner house

The dust blown from dirty ducts through vents does more than contaminate the air you and your family breathe. It also spreads over carpets, furniture, and household surfaces. You’ll struggle keeping your house looking clean and pleasant if clogged ducts continue to waft dust everywhere.

Duct cleaning involves more than using a whisk broom to sweep out the visible surfaces. Professionals need to access the difficult to reach sections of your ductwork and apply tools such as power vacuums, chemical sanitizers, and rotary brushes to give you the best cleaning. If you should have a microbacterial infection, duct cleaning specialists have UV germicidal lights that can eliminate the problem.

When you need experts who will do a thorough job with your duct cleaning in Hammond, LA, get in touch with A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning. We can do more for you than duct cleaning: we install air filters and perform duct sealing. We’re available 24 hours a day for emergency services.

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Is a Commercial HVAC Replacement Worth It?

November 11th, 2013 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Commercial heating and air conditioning equipment is large and quite complex. As any commercial property owner can tell you, it is also quite costly. While investing in a replacement commercial HVAC system is certainly a major investment, there are many situations in which this is simply the best course of action. While only a skilled commercial HVAC replacement technician can advise you whether or not a replacement is necessary, there are some factors to consider which may help you determine if a replacement is right for you. Here is some information from the Hammond, LA commercial HVAC professionals at A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning which can help you recognize a need for commercial HVAC replacement on your commercial property.

In many situations, your commercial HVAC equipment can be repaired rather than replaced. Just because your system can be repaired, however, does not mean that this is the right move. Before continuing to repair your system, you should take into account the frequency with which repair needs crop up. If you find that you are often contact a commercial HVAC repair technician to resolve problems with your equipment, a replacement may actually be more cost effective, despite the upfront expense. With a new system, properly installed of course, you will enjoy a more consistent and reliable heating and cooling performance while spending less on repair services. This can help to offset the initial investment over time.

The age of your commercial heating and air conditioning equipment must also be carefully considered. While your commercial HVAC equipment may actually be working just fine, it is very possible that older equipment simply may not be capable of reaching the efficiency levels that more modern systems boast. Investing in a new system can be costly, yes, but if you can pay less money for a better performance over time then you can recoup much of that primary spending in energy savings.

To discuss your Hammond, LA commercial HVAC replacement options with a qualified professional, give A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning a call. We can answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to learn more about the replacement options available to you.

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Tips for a Successful Heating Installation

November 4th, 2013 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

Louisiana is a pretty warm place for much of the year, but the heat does not stick around year long. This means that the heating system in your home is every bit as important to your overall comfort as your air conditioner is. You can invest in the greatest heating system on the market but still fail to get the best performance it has to offer, though, if you fail to schedule your heating installation service in Hammond, LA with a skilled professional. Do not put your comfort in jeopardy this heating season. Contact the heating installation pros at A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning. We’ll make sure that you get the most out of your heater.

The first step in ensuring that you get a great performance from your heating system is to discuss your heating options with a qualified heating installation technician. While furnaces are still at the top of the game, there are many other systems to choose from. If you enjoy the comfort that a forced air distribution system has to offer but are also interested in boosting energy efficiency, a heat pump may be right for you. No room for air ducts in your home? No problem. A ductless mini split system allows you to keep your home comfortable all year long without the use of ductwork. You may even want to consider the installation of an old fashioned fireplace or wood burning stove. There is no “right” method of home heating, only that which is right for you.

Another important part of ensuring that your heating installation is a success is to schedule your service prior to the heating season. As the season gets closer, technicians enter the busiest service time of the year. Putting off your heating installation may result in a delay of service and a disruption to your comfort. Call to schedule your heating installation or replacement before the chill of winter arrives, and be ready for what lies ahead.

Whatever heating system you decide is right for your home, the Hammond, LA heating installation specialists at A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning can complete the service properly. Call today to learn more. We are happy to help you keep warm and cozy this heating season.

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Getting Your Furnace Winter Ready

October 22nd, 2013 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

As winter approaches and your air conditioner is used less and less frequently, you should begin thinking about the performance of your furnace this heating season. You may find that your furnace is not in the great condition necessary to keep your home comfortable throughout the coldest time of the year. Taking the initiative to get your furnace winter ready is a necessary task if you hope to make it through the winter comfortably and with an efficient, effective heating performance. Call today to learn more. The Hammond, LA heating experts at A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning can help you determine what must be done to prepare your heater for winter.

Before you fire up your furnace on the first cold night of the year, you should have already run it a little to ensure that everything is functioning properly. After all, the fact that it worked fine at the close of the past winter does not mean that it will start right up again successfully at the beginning of this heating season. You should also take the time to complete a quick visual inspection of your furnace and the supply and return ducts throughout your home. Nothing should be stacked up around your furnace or placed in front of the air ducts. There is a fire risk in storing things around your furnace, and your system will not distribute air effectively and efficiently if it must force that air through your couch.

By far the most important step you can take to get the most out of your heating system, though, is to simply schedule routine heating maintenance with a qualified professional. Only a skilled technician can ensure that your heater is able to handle the demand that you will put on it in the coming months. Do not take any chances. Allow a Hammond, LA furnace maintenance technician the opportunity to inspect and tune up your furnace before winter arrives.

Call A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning to get the great performance you need from your furnace in Hammond, LA. Do not let it slip into disrepair. Your comfort and the condition of your heating system will be put in jeopardy.

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Common Problems with Furnaces

October 14th, 2013 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree

There are a lot of issues that you may encounter with your home heating system. While furnaces are widely renowned for their efficient, effective heating performance, it is impossible for even such a well-regarded heating method to completely avoid operational problems. Investing in a good heating system and scheduling routine furnace maintenance is a great way to protect the condition of your heating equipment, as well as your comfort. However, there are some common problems that you may encounter with your furnace in Hammond, LA. Here are a few examples from the home Hammond, LA heating repair technicians at A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning.

One of the most common issues that homeowners encounter with their furnaces is a lack of heating power. There are a few reasons that you may experience such a problem. If your furnace is too small for your home, there is no way that you can hope to get an efficient, reliable performance from your heating system. Your furnace will struggle to provide enough heating to reach target temperatures, which will in turn cause it to work inefficiently and suffer unnecessary wear and tear. If the furnace in your home is undersized, a furnace replacement may be necessary.

You may also notice that the pilot light on your furnace keeps going out. When you burn natural gas or propane to fuel your furnace, problems with the pilot light cannot be taken lightly. Incomplete burning of such fuels can introduce carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas into your home. It is possible that there is a problem with your fuel delivery line, but you may also need a new thermocouple. The thermocouple in your furnace is a safety device which shuts down the flow of gas to the pilot if there is not sufficient heat to ignite the fuel. If your thermocouple malfunctions, it may misread the temperature and shut off the gas unnecessarily.

To learn more about common furnace problems in Hammond, LA, call A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning. We’ll help you get a great performance from your heater to keep your home warm and efficiently heated.  Contact us today for more details about effective home heating.

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