I get the pain with indoor trap smells, but honestly, I’ll take a little stink over fighting a frozen lid at 6am in January. If you set up a decent cleaning schedule and maybe add a charcoal filter, the odor’s manageable. The real nightmare is when you’re out there with a crowbar and the lid still won’t budge... been there, done that, lost feeling in my fingers for a week.
The real nightmare is when you’re out there with a crowbar and the lid still won’t budge... been there, done that, lost feeling in my fingers for a week.
That’s exactly what I’m worried about. I’d rather deal with a bit of stink inside than risk frostbite just to empty a trap. Is the charcoal filter really enough though? I keep hearing mixed things about how well they work. Also, does anyone actually stick to those cleaning schedules, or does it just end up being “when it starts to smell”?
Charcoal filters are kind of like air fresheners for your gym bag—they help, but they’re not magic. If you’re cooking a lot of greasy stuff, you’ll notice the smell eventually, filter or not. As for those cleaning schedules, in theory, people stick to them... in reality, it’s more like “oh wow, what died in here?” and then it’s time to clean. I’d take a little stink over hacking ice off a manhole any day.
I’ve had both setups and honestly, I’ll take a little kitchen funk over digging around outside in February. Last winter, I tried to open the underground trap and it was basically a frozen tomb. Meanwhile, the in-kitchen one just needed a quick scrub and some vinegar. Yeah, it’s not glamorous, but at least I didn’t need a pickaxe. Plus, I swear the outdoor ones attract raccoons... or maybe that’s just my luck.
Yeah, I hear you on the frozen outdoor trap—had to pour buckets of hot water just to pry mine open one year. Honestly, maintenance is way more predictable indoors. Sure, it’s a bit gross sometimes, but at least you’re not wrestling with wildlife or the weather. The convenience factor just outweighs the occasional kitchen smell, in my opinion.
