Choosing between in-kitchen and underground grease traps - what would you do?

I get where you're coming from, but I actually think the in-kitchen units can work fine if you’re realistic about your habits. We put one in last year, and yeah, it needs attention, but I just set a reminder on my phone and it’s been manageable. The install was way easier (and cheaper) than digging up the yard. Not everyone’s up for the big project, or has the space outside anyway. For smaller kitchens or folks who don’t mind a little routine, I still think they’re a solid option.

The install was way easier (and cheaper) than digging up the yard.

Totally fair point - installing outside can turn into a can of worms fast. Just gotta flag, though, with in-kitchen units, you really can’t slack on cleaning. I’ve seen backups get ugly quick... like, “why is there water on the floor?” ugly. If you’re on top of the routine, it’s fine, but miss a cleaning and it’s a mess nobody wants to deal with.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been called in for a kitchen trap that got neglected and turned into a mini flood. It’s wild how quickly grease builds up if you don’t stick to the cleaning schedule. Honestly, underground traps are more work upfront, but once they’re in, you don’t have to worry about daily maintenance as much. Still, for smaller spaces or tight budgets, I get why folks go with in-kitchen units. Just wish more people realized how unforgiving they can be if you let things slide even a little...

Just wish more people realized how unforgiving they can be if you let things slide even a little...

That’s the kicker, right? I’ve had tenants swear they’d keep up with the cleaning, but a busy week and suddenly there’s a backup. I lean toward underground traps for anything bigger than a coffee shop, even though the install is a pain. Have you ever found a good way to remind folks about maintenance, or is it just inevitable that someone forgets?

I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’ve had more headaches with underground traps than the in-kitchen ones. Out of sight, out of mind - tenants forget about them even more. At least with in-kitchen, someone notices the smell or slow drain before it’s a disaster. Maybe I’m just paranoid after one too many surprise backups, but I’ll take the inconvenience over a full-blown mess any day.