Experts can often eyeball down a sewer line and tells what's wrong immediately. Sometimes, a sewer inspection is done with a camera. On larger city sewer lines, they can send in a robot with a camera mounted on its top to make a proper sewer inspection.

If you are moving into a new home, a good sewer inspection could be in order. Who knows what the previous owners flushed and ground down into the sewer system? Clean it out and keep it clean. The only things that should go down into the sewers are garbage disposal food, wash water of all kinds and bathroom water.

Taking a look down the sewer yourself will probably be fruitless. Have you ever tried to look down a dark and smelly pipe before? You can probably only see down about six inches, anyway. These pipes are full of curves. A sewer inspection done by a professional will keep your system maintained.

Many sewer pipes have been around for decades. Keep your system in good working condition and you won't need to pay out for expensive repairs if something blows. A yearly sewer inspection will keep your neighbors from yelling -- "Thar she blows!", and it will also keep your nerves and bank account sane.