Two different plumbers have stated that we have, about 3 feet under the house, a sewer pipe that has tree roots invading, and that this is the reason for our frequent clogs.
The fix for this is not something I can afford right now. In the meantime, I would like to know what less expensive temporary fixes exist, either DIY or professional, should a clog happen again.
I'm a little confused because the three times the clog has happened in the last three years, the plumbers did things that cost me upwards of a thousand dollars, but they told me if I had an external cleanout it would be cheaper. So I got an external cleanout. But the latest plumber who came for a routine camera sweep through the pipes, stated that once the clog happens again (and we have started hearing gurgles, so it's coming), if we're not repairing the pipe itself, it'll be jetting (which I swear is what the plumbers did before as well) and will cost upwards of $1000.
Am I likely doomed to pay $1000 a year or so until I finally pay for the thing to get actually fixed? No cheaper temporary bandaids available?