Honestly, the smell is what kills it for me with in-kitchen traps. I tried to save money by going that route, but after a few months, I was lighting candles every time I cooked. Not worth it. Underground’s more expensive up front and a pain to clean, but at least you’re not living with eau de grease 24/7. If you’re on a tight budget and don’t mind regular cleaning, maybe stick with in-kitchen... but if you can swing it, underground saves your nose (and your guests) in the long run.
I went with the in-kitchen trap when I moved in, thinking it’d be a quick fix and save me some cash. Regretted it after about two weeks. The smell just creeps up on you, especially if you forget to clean it even once. My partner started calling it “the funk zone.” We finally bit the bullet and switched to underground. Yeah, it was a pain to install, but honestly, I’d rather deal with that once than keep scrubbing and lighting incense every night.
I get the appeal of saving a few bucks upfront, but man, I just can’t deal with kitchen smells lingering around. I’m all for budget fixes, but if it means my house smells like a fast food dumpster, I’ll pass. Underground’s a pain, sure, but at least you’re not constantly fighting “the funk.”
Underground grease traps are a pain, no doubt, but they’re the lesser evil in my book. Had a tenant once who insisted on an in-kitchen unit to "save on install." Two months later, I got a call about a smell that wouldn’t quit—like someone deep-fried socks and left them under the sink.
“if it means my house smells like a fast food dumpster, I’ll pass.”
Couldn’t agree more. Here’s how I usually look at it:
1. Initial cost: Yeah, underground is pricier upfront, but you only pay that pain once.
2. Smell factor: In-kitchen traps are basically stink bombs waiting for the right conditions—especially if folks skip regular cleanings.
3. Maintenance: Underground’s out of sight, out of mind most of the year. You just need to pump it out every so often, but at least you’re not scrubbing slime out from under your sink.
4. Resale value: Nobody wants to buy or rent a place with a lingering “funk.” Trust me.
If you can swing the install, underground wins hands down. The only thing worse than the cost is chasing down tenants about cleaning schedules... and that’s a headache I’d rather avoid.
You nailed it with the “stink bomb” comparison. I’ve seen way too many folks try to cut corners with in-kitchen units, thinking they’ll just keep up with the cleaning. Never works out long-term—life gets busy, and suddenly you’re dealing with a smell that just won’t quit. Underground’s a hassle at first, sure, but once it’s in, you barely think about it. That peace of mind is worth every penny, especially if you’re not keen on chasing people down about maintenance.