Choosing between in-kitchen and underground grease traps - what would you do?

Had a similar debate with my uncle when he redid his kitchen last year. He was convinced the underground trap was “future-proofing,” but honestly, it turned into a mini excavation project in his backyard. Took us two weekends, and by the end, I was questioning if it was worth it for a household of three.

In my own place, I just stick with the under-sink trap and make sure to clean it out every couple months. Never had a backup or any nasty smells. Maybe if you’re deep-frying stuff every night or have a dozen people over for Sunday dinners, the big setup makes sense. But for most folks? Feels like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

That said, I’ve seen what happens when people ignore maintenance - grease blobs clogging everything up. So yeah, whichever way you go, regular cleaning is key... unless you want to spend your Saturday digging up pipes.

- Totally get where you’re coming from - digging up the yard for a grease trap feels like overkill unless you’re running a restaurant out of your kitchen.
- Under-sink traps are way easier to maintain, and you can actually see when they need cleaning. No need for shovels or backhoes.
- Only thing I wonder: does anyone here have experience with local codes? Some places are starting to require bigger traps even for residential if you remodel. Wondering if that’s just a city thing or if it’s spreading.
- For me, unless you’re cooking for a crowd every night, the under-sink option just makes more sense. Less mess, less hassle, and you don’t have to worry about tree roots getting into your lines down the road.

No need for shovels or backhoes.

I’ve had to deal with both setups in different rentals, and honestly, the underground ones are a pain if you ever get a clog or need to check for leaks. One property I manage had tree roots get into the line - total nightmare. But I did run into a city inspector last year who said they’re starting to push for bigger traps in older neighborhoods, especially if you pull permits for kitchen remodels. Not sure if it’s just a local thing or if it’s catching on elsewhere, but it’s definitely something I’m keeping an eye on. Anyone else actually had to upgrade because of new code?

they’re starting to push for bigger traps in older neighborhoods, especially if you pull permits for kitchen remodels.

Yeah, I’ve seen that too - code changes are creeping in all over. Had to swap out a 20lb in-kitchen trap for a 50lb last winter after a remodel inspection flagged it. Not fun, but at least it’s easier to service than digging up the yard. Undergrounds are brutal if you ever get roots or a collapse... I’d take a bigger indoor trap over that hassle any day.

I hear you - underground traps are a nightmare if anything goes wrong. Had to jackhammer my driveway once to get at a collapsed line... never again. Bigger indoor trap might be a pain, but at least you can actually get to it when you need to.