Tom is the founder and president of the Estoban Corporation.
After graduating from Delaware Valley College in 1976 and spending time in the Peace Corps, so has spent the past 30 years working in the chimney /heating industries.  His full time commitment to providing the best equipment possible to photo document places where your head can’t fit, i.e. chimneys, duct work, drains, etc.

Today Tom is a nationally known speaker on a variety of subjects. He offers the “First Friday Seminars” (that phrase should link to the page about the seminars and schedule) at his factory in Fairfield, Iowa.  Check the calendar (the word calendar should link also) for other scheduled engagements this year

Professional Experience

Owned and operated Urban’s Chimney Sweep & supply Company in northeast Pennsylvania from 1978-1984.  He introduced the relining of masonry chimneys with stainless steel liners and the use of a ceramic blanket to wrap around liners to prevent heat loss, which is now an industry standard. He also, developed a method to ovalize the stainless steel pipe to be installed into rectangular chimney flues, which is also used today.

Researched and developed the use of closed circuit cameras inside of confined spaces such as chimneys and heating/cooling ducts in buildings.  This research has also lead to the integration of cameras for use in other fields, such as agriculture, municipalities, utility companies, biologists, engineering firms. 

Tom started the Estoban Corporation in 1984 and registered the trade mark of its main product Chim-Scan.

He designs and provides training seminars on chimney relining, oil burner technology, chimney section procedures, photo documentation, interpretation training, and seminars on computer generated reports.  These seminars have been at national and regional conventions and he has done personal in-house company training for his customers.

Tom has been a teacher the Chimney safety Institute of America in Indianapolis, IN for 8 years.  As part of a team of four who teach diagnosis and documentation procedures to sweeps, engineers, and home inspectors.  The 3 or 5 day course is also taken on the road twice a year.  Tom developed a multi-media course that includes power-point presentations and hands-on study.

Tom has been the technical editor for SWEEPING, the chimney industry magazine, providing monthly articles in the magazine continually for one year and still submits articles for publication.

Additional professional activities

Speaker at regional and national conventions in the chimney industry, heating, and fireplace industries consecutively for 20 years.

Founding director of the PA state chimney sweep guild in 1982

Member of a team of seven chimney professionals from across the country who were the first to document the conditions of all the fireplaces at the Presidents’ residence, The White House in Washington, D.C.  Equipment was provided by Estoban Corporation and Tom personally over saw the scanning and documentation of the chimneys.

Member of the Board of Directors of the National Chimney Sweep Guild 1997-2001

Chairman of the Technical Committee of the N.C.S.G. for three years.

Member of the technical committee for then years.

Expert witness in court cases

Worked with ABC 20/20 investigative reporter during a report on carbon monoxide poisoning case in N.J.

1998 – Authored a four page report on carbon monoxide titled, “Close Encounters with CO” that was printed and sold thru the N.C.S.G. 

Provided equipment and setup for three episodes of “This Old House” on P.B.S. and knows the secret location of the “The New Yankee Workshop”, but he isn’t telling J

Professional Memberships

National Chimney Sweep Guild (N.C.S.G.) since 1979
Certified Sweep # 210
Knights of Columbus

Awards