Man, I hear you on the “primordial sludge” front. I once spent half a Saturday trying to fish out what looked like the Ghostbusters’ nemesis from an underground trap—never again if I can help it. In-kitchen traps might make your nose wrinkle now and then, but at least you’re not suiting up for spelunking every time there’s a clog. I’ll take a whiff of old grease over a crawlspace horror show any day. Above ground just feels like less drama, even if it’s not perfect.
I get where you’re coming from—underground traps are a nightmare when things go sideways. Still, I’ve seen some kitchens where the in-kitchen units get neglected and turn into their own science experiments. At least with the big underground ones, you can go longer between cleanings if they’re sized right, but yeah, when it’s time to open them up... not pretty. Honestly, it’s a trade-off between convenience and how much gross you’re willing to deal with up close. Neither option is perfect, but I’d rather deal with a little stink than a full-on excavation.
Honestly, it’s a trade-off between convenience and how much gross you’re willing to deal with up close.
That’s pretty much it. I’ve had to jackhammer out an old underground trap once—took hours and the smell was brutal. Still, those little in-kitchen ones get ignored way too often. Pick your poison, I guess.
