I get it—out of sight can turn into out of mind real fast, especially with stuff like this. I went with an indoor trap for that reason. Not the most pleasant, but I can see when it’s filling up and deal with it before it’s a problem. If you’re even a little forgetful, it’s just less risk. I’d rather deal with a bit of odor than a massive dig-up job outside.
Here’s the thing—indoor traps are easier to monitor, yeah, but they also tend to stink up the place if you miss even a single cleaning. I’ve had tenants complain about odors more than once, and it’s not always easy to get rid of that smell. On the flip side, underground traps are a pain when they need service, but at least the mess is outside. Have you ever run into a tenant who just flat-out refuses to touch the indoor one? That’s been my headache lately...
Yeah, I've seen tenants flat-out refuse to even open the lid on those indoor traps—can't really blame them, honestly. The smell can get brutal if someone skips a cleaning. Underground ones are a pain for access, but at least you’re not dealing with complaints about odors wafting through the kitchen. I guess it comes down to whether you want easier maintenance or fewer complaints... neither option’s perfect.
Honestly, you nailed it—there’s no perfect setup. I’ve crawled under more than a few buildings to clear out those underground traps, and it’s never fun. But yeah, at least the kitchen doesn’t smell like a swamp. Sometimes you just gotta pick your battles...
Honestly, I’ve been on the fence about this for a while. When we moved in, the house had an old-school underground trap and I thought, “How bad could it be?” Fast forward to me, laying on my back with a flashlight in my mouth, trying to snake out what can only be described as primordial sludge… not my favorite Sunday afternoon.
Here’s how I think about it now:
1. In-kitchen traps are way easier to monitor and clean—just pop it open, do your thing, done. But yeah, you get that lovely eau de grease sometimes if you’re not on top of it.
2. Underground ones keep the kitchen air fresher but maintenance is a pain. Plus, if there’s a clog… well, hope you like crawling around in the dark.
If you’re not squeamish about kitchen smells and want to make life easier on yourself, in-kitchen seems like less hassle overall. Underground feels more “set and forget” until it isn’t—then it’s all hands (and knees) on deck. Not sure there’s a perfect answer, but after my last crawlspace adventure, I’m leaning toward keeping things above ground where I can see 'em.
