After owning a few rentals, I've seen it all! Here's what happens......when the house is occupied, water goes through the drains on a regular basis....the roots in the ground get fed from the little bit of water that seeps through the joints in the sewer pipes. When the house is vacant, the roots seek the water, and creep into the tiny crevices in the sewer pipes, thus clogging the main sewer.
One of the first things I used to do was buy a gallon of Muratic Acid, and pour it down the main cleanout, perferably, when nobody is going to use the water, like overnight.
Using Muritic Acid has saved me many times. The only thong is not to use it regularly...it's corrosive and not good for your sewer pipes if used too often, about once or twice a year. The other thing is even the smallest drop will burn a hole right through your clothes, I ruined many pairs of levis! Muratic Acid is used by masons for cleaning bricks, they dilute it though. It's about $5.00 bucks a gallon. I've seen the stuff work.....
RC Fishing World