Trees, shade and what they do below ground
Outremont is well known for its canopy of mature street trees. They shade the houses and cool the summer, but their roots can head toward the nearest moisture, which is often a sewer lateral with a tired joint. Homeowners sometimes notice slow flushing, a rumble in the pipes after laundry or a garden patch that stays wet.
On the busier avenues, traffic and tight curbside parking make machine access to the cleanout a practical consideration. A camera inspection from inside the house usually avoids needing to dig, and it shows whether roots have simply entered or the pipe has actually collapsed.

