I’d rather deal with a little stink than accidentally pollute the garden I’m trying to keep chemical-free…
Honestly, if your underground trap is installed right and pumped out on schedule, you shouldn’t have leaching issues. The real problem comes when folks skip maintenance or use cheap tanks that crack. Have you checked what kind of tank you’ve got buried out there? Some of the older fiberglass ones are notorious for leaks.
Honestly, if your underground trap is installed right and pumped out on schedule, you shouldn’t have leaching issues.
That's the key—maintenance. I moved in last year and inherited an underground grease trap that looked fine on paper, but the previous owner hadn't had it pumped in ages. I was pretty nervous about what I'd find. Turns out, the tank was concrete (thankfully, not fiberglass), but the baffles were starting to crumble. Had to get those patched up, and now I've got a reminder set for regular pump-outs.
I get wanting to keep the kitchen air fresher, but honestly, I’d take a little smell over risking a leak into the garden soil. If you’re set on underground, just make sure you know exactly what kind of tank you’ve got and how old it is. Some of those older fiberglass models really do get brittle over time... my neighbor had one collapse after a heavy rain and it wasn’t pretty.
If you’re handy and don’t mind a bit of routine work, the in-kitchen traps are easier to keep an eye on, but they do need frequent cleaning or they’ll stink up the place fast. For me, it came down to which mess I’d rather deal with—smelly kitchen or surprise yard excavation. Neither’s perfect, but at least with maintenance, you can avoid the worst of both.
For me, it came down to which mess I’d rather deal with—smelly kitchen or surprise yard excavation.
Been there. When I bought my place, the underground trap was a “set it and forget it” situation—until it wasn’t. First winter, the line froze because the tank was too shallow. Had to dig it up, insulate, and now I keep a log for pump-outs and weather checks. If you’re on a budget, I’d say in-kitchen is cheaper upfront, but the cleaning gets old fast. Underground’s pricier to fix, but less daily hassle if you stay on top of it.
Underground traps get hyped as “maintenance free,” but that’s only true until something goes sideways. I’ve seen way too many folks ignore them for years, then act surprised when a backup floods the parking lot or the line freezes solid. You nailed it—once you’re digging in frozen ground, you’re wishing you just dealt with some kitchen stink.
In-kitchen units are a pain, no doubt. Nobody enjoys scraping out that sludge every week, and the smell can get brutal if staff get lazy. But at least you know exactly what’s going on—it’s right there in your face. Cheaper to install, too, like you said.
I lean toward in-kitchen unless you’ve got a big operation or a crew that actually follows a strict maintenance schedule. Underground’s fine if you’re religious about logs and pump-outs, but most people aren’t. Too easy to forget until it’s a disaster... and by then, it’s never cheap or quick to fix.
Had a job last winter where an underground trap froze solid—took us two days with heaters and a backhoe just to get to the thing. Owner swore up and down it was “maintenance free” because that’s what the installer told him. Meanwhile, the kitchen was shut down, staff standing around, and he’s watching dollars bleed out the door. I get why folks want them out of sight, but out of sight is out of mind until you’re knee-deep in a mess.
In-kitchen units are gross, yeah, but at least you can’t ignore them for long. I’ve seen places where the staff just got used to the routine—scrape, dump, done. Not glamorous, but it beats emergency calls at 2am.
Curious if anyone’s actually had luck with those newer “smart” underground traps that claim to send alerts when they need service? Or is that just another thing to break down?
