Chimney Swift infestation. So, beyond waiting until fall and putting a chimney cap on, what can you really do? I'm thinking along the lines of sealing up at the damper somehow.

Have a customer with the worst I've seen. I usually see just a couple nests and the people hear faint sounds and wonder what the heck it is. Come back in the fall and put on a cap, they have their chimney sweep put on a cap, or they don't do anything because they are glad the chimney swifts have some place to live and they are relieved that there is not a young dinosaur in there chimney.

This guys place, when you tap on the damper it sounds like a windmill that needs grease in a hurricane. Smells like a chicken yard to boot. Is there any way to temporarily seal it off at the damper, to cut down on noise and smell? Maybe something inflatable? Any ideas would be great before I go stuffing an inflatable life raft in this guy's fireplace.

I have used foam board sheeting cut to fit the area. Then you can seam the edges with duct or good masking tape. If your cut is a good fit you can get wedge and work the piece into position and this will seal alot of noise and most likely stop the air flow drafting down into the home.

A face seal of the fireplace with foam board would be the easier fit and least time consuming.You can buy the fan board at most Lowes and Home Depot stores. It usually comes in green or pink color.It is about 1/4" thick and 2'x 4' in size.

Get a trash bag....put vaseline on the bag(thin coat)....Get some expanding foam...fill up bag....seal it up airtight(so that it can expand the bag) all of this has to be done in the duct or chimney.....REMOVE BEFORE A FIRE IS STARTED OF COURSE AND BE SURE TO WIPE OUT ALL OF THE VASELINE WITH MINERAL SPIRITS...

Vaseline for the mites to get stuck in?

NO for when he presents the invoice to his client.

vaseline so that if the bag leaks it is easier to get the dried foam out of the pipe, duct ,or chimney....