Stainless definitely holds up better over time, but I’ve noticed it’s not always the easiest to work with, especially if you’re dealing with tight spaces under a sink. I had to wrestle one into place last month and let’s just say my knuckles still remember it. Plastic is lighter and easier for quick installs, but yeah, those little leaks can sneak up on you after a while. If you stay on top of cleaning though, even plastic doesn’t get too gross. Just depends how much hassle you want down the road...
Plastic is lighter and easier for quick installs, but yeah, those little leaks can sneak up on you after a while.
Yeah, I’ve had a couple of those “surprise” leaks with plastic too. Stainless is a pain to squeeze in under the sink, but once it’s there, you can pretty much forget about it. For me, I’d rather wrestle with it once than deal with drips later. Underground traps are nice for keeping things out of sight, but cleaning them is a whole different headache... depends if you want the hassle up front or down the line.
Wrestling with stainless under a sink is basically a rite of passage, right? I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve banged my knuckles on the cabinet frame trying to get those connections just right. But yeah, once it’s in, it’s like you said—set it and forget it. I’ll take a bruised hand over a mystery puddle any day.
Underground traps are nice for keeping things out of sight, but cleaning them is a whole different headache... depends if you want the hassle up front or down the line.
That’s the million-dollar question. I’ve had tenants who didn’t even realize there *was* a grease trap until it backed up and turned their kitchen into a slip-and-slide. Out of sight, out of mind... until you’re ankle-deep in dishwater. And getting someone to actually clean an underground trap? Good luck. Half the time, you’re paying a plumber just to find the thing.
On the other hand, in-kitchen traps are ugly and take up precious cabinet space. But at least when they start to stink or slow down, you know right away. I’ve got one property where the trap’s practically a conversation piece—“What’s that smell?” “Oh, just the grease trap. Want to see how it works?” Makes for a great icebreaker at move-in.
I guess it comes down to whether you want to deal with the hassle in small doses (and maybe more often), or risk a big headache later on. Personally, I lean toward in-kitchen, just because I like being able to check things myself. But ask me again after I’ve cleaned out three in a row and I might change my tune...
Funny how “out of sight, out of mind” always comes back to bite you, right? I’ve had underground traps that basically turned into archaeological digs—by the time you find them, you’re already in trouble. At least with in-kitchen, you can pop the lid and see what’s going on. Sure, they’re ugly, but I’d rather deal with a little stink than a full-on plumbing emergency. Anyone else ever tried labeling the cabinet “Not For Storage—Grease Trap Inside”? Didn’t work for me... tenants still shoved stuff in there.
- Totally get the frustration with tenants ignoring labels—I've seen folks just shove cleaning supplies right on top of the trap like it's not even there.
- In-kitchen traps are ugly, but at least you can check them without crawling around outside or digging up half your yard.
- One trick that helped me: I installed a cheap wire shelf above the trap inside the cabinet. Makes it harder to pile stuff directly on top, and people seem less likely to mess with it.
- Underground traps are out of sight, but honestly, unless you’re religious about maintenance, they’re just ticking time bombs. I’d rather deal with a little smell than a surprise backup... learned that the hard way after a holiday weekend.
- If you have to go underground, maybe set calendar reminders for checks? Otherwise, in-kitchen is just more practical for most rentals.