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:

Winter Thermostat Tips for Our Customers

December 16th, 2024 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
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Your heating system is critical to your comfort and wellbeing during the winter. But it’s not the only part of your HVAC system that you need in good working order so that you’ll stay cozy and warm. Without your thermostat, your heating system wouldn’t work at all! We’ve got some tips for you on how to keep your thermostat in great condition and how to set it to maximize your efficiency this winter.

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Fix Your Own Furnace? No! Here’s Why DIY Is a Bad Idea

December 2nd, 2024 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
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Today, you can find all kinds of information at your fingertips. Once upon a time, people had to go to the library, or consult a hard-to-find expert when they wanted to know something. Now, you carry a world’s worth of knowledge in your pocket. But not everything you see on the internet is actually a good idea!

It’s great to tackle DIY projects when the costs and risks are low. Sure, learn how to do wallpapering! But some parts of your home must only be worked on by experts. Your furnace requires specialized training, licensing, and equipment to repair. Is all that really necessary? Yes! Here’s why not to DIY heating repair.

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How to Choose an Outstanding Heating Contractor

November 18th, 2024 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
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Although we live in a warm climate, we definitely do need our heat during a certain stretch of the year. And in order to have our heating systems in good condition and ready to work when we do need them, we need to get routine annual maintenance and make sure to have repairs done promptly when something goes wrong. And those things need to be done by professionals.

The average homeowner is not an HVAC expert. That can make it challenging to figure out whether someone you hire to work on your heating system is really qualified! So how can you be sure to choose a heating contractor that’s not just acceptable, but truly outstanding? Here’s what to look for.

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A Handy Heat Pump Maintenance & Repair Guide

November 4th, 2024 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
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Heat pumps are the perfect system for our climate. They can keep you as cool as a cucumber all summer long. Then, when temperatures drop and you start to feel the winter chill, they can also keep you toasty warm! They’re efficient, too, especially when it comes to heating. And although they might seem new-fangled, they’re based on the same exact technology as air conditioners, which is tried and true.

Because they are so similar to air conditioners, they have a lot of the same components, and a lot of the same needs when it comes to servicing them. But not everything is quite identical! What is different about the maintenance and repair a heat pump needs? Check out this handy guide so you’ll be able to keep your system in top condition.

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It’s Time for Fall Furnace Maintenance!

October 21st, 2024 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
fall-decor-and-pumpkins-on-wooden-tabletop

What an absolutely stunning time of year it is! The breezes are cool, the leaves are colorful, the pumpkins are everywhere… and it’s time to get ready for winter. That’s right, don’t relax and enjoy the season just yet. You’ve got some important things to do! And what’s at the top of your fall to-do list? Schedule furnace maintenance! It’s essential for so many reasons.

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What’s That Smell? Your Heater Needs Repair

October 7th, 2024 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
graphic-of-odor-coming-from-an-air-vent

When you first turn your heat on this fall, will it perform the way you need it to? Or will it have problems with performance or efficiency? Will it need repairs before it can keep you properly cozy? Will it perhaps make a strange smell?

Often, an odor coming from your heating system is a sign that something is wrong. But sometimes, it’s perfectly normal, and you shouldn’t be too worried. What’s the difference? Why would your heater cause odd smells? How can you tell if you need heating repair? Here are the details you should know.

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Prolong AC Life: Protect Your Compressor

September 23rd, 2024 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
close-up-of-AC-outdoor-unit

An air conditioner is quite an investment. You want it to keep your home cool and comfortable for as many years as possible so you can really benefit from that investment. The last thing you’d want is for your air conditioner to break down and need to be replaced in just a handful of years! 

We’d like to help you enjoy that investment for many years. How can you avoid the problems that lead to early air conditioner replacement? The key to a long-lasting air conditioner is the compressor. Protect that component to prolong AC life. Here’s how to do it.

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Ice on Your AC? That’s a Problem

September 9th, 2024 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
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Air conditioners make air cold. In order to do this, they have to be cold. But they absolutely should not be covered in ice! If your air conditioner has ice on it, something is wrong. What could the problem be? How should you deal with it? Here are some simple instructions.

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How Do High-Efficiency Air Conditioners Work?

August 26th, 2024 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
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We’ve got great news for you. If your air conditioner is getting on in years, the new models are so much better that you’ll be astonished. And it’s true that your old air conditioner has gotten less effective and less efficient as it reaches the end of its life. But these new high-efficiency air conditioners use significantly less energy than your old one did, even when it was first installed!

Today’s air conditioners have changed. There have been some big improvements in how these systems work, and AC manufacturers have managed to make air conditioners that save you energy (and money!) while keeping you gloriously cool. How do these new high-efficiency air conditioners work? What’s changed in how they’re made? We’ll explain all about it.

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Short Cycling Heat Pump? Here’s What to Do

August 12th, 2024 | Written By | Reviewed By Ronnie Roundtree
HVAC-technician-performing-repairs

Efficiency is the most remarkable thing about your heat pump. You certainly don’t want anything to take that awesome energy-saving ability away from it! But many problems that a heat pump can encounter will reduce its efficiency dramatically if you don’t have it repaired. Short cycling is a heat pump problem that wastes a huge amount of energy. Here’s some info about short cycling and how to remedy it.

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