Had a similar situation a couple years back—management wanted to switch to underground for “efficiency.” Ended up being more hassle than it was worth. Scheduling pump-outs was a pain, and we had a backup once because no one noticed the tank was full. With in-kitchen traps, at least you can see when things need attention. Not perfect, but way safer in my book.
I hear you on the underground hassle—my neighbor’s setup turned into a guessing game, and nobody “won” when it overflowed. I’ve always wondered, though, do in-kitchen traps stink up the place if you don’t stay on top of cleaning? I like the idea of seeing when it’s full, but I’m not sure I want surprise aromas while I’m making dinner...
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I think the smell issue with in-kitchen traps is a bit overblown. If you’re even halfway decent about emptying it, it’s not a big deal. I’ve seen way more headaches with underground ones—out of sight, out of mind, until you’re ankle-deep in a mess. At least with the kitchen ones, you know when it’s time to deal with it. I’d rather risk a whiff now and then than a full-blown backup under the house...
I hear you on the “out of sight, out of mind” thing—had an underground trap at my last place and when it went bad, it was a nightmare to find and fix. The kitchen ones do need regular attention, but at least you can see when they’re getting full. I guess it comes down to how much maintenance you’re willing to do. Personally, I’d rather deal with a little smell now and then than risk a surprise under the floorboards. It’s not glamorous, but it’s manageable.
Personally, I’d rather deal with a little smell now and then than risk a surprise under the floorboards. It’s not glamorous, but it’s manageable.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’ve seen some in-kitchen traps get pretty gnarly if someone skips a cleaning or two. The smell can be more than “a little” sometimes... plus, if you’re tight on space, those units can really get in the way. Underground ones are a pain to fix when they go bad, but with regular checks, they’re mostly hassle-free for ages. Guess it’s a tradeoff either way.