Had to laugh at this:
Story of my life. I once got called in for an “emergency” at a diner where the under-sink trap hadn’t been touched in months—manager swore someone else was on it. The smell hit me before I even got through the door. I get the appeal of underground, but I’ve seen those go sideways too when nobody remembers to schedule the pump. Either way, you need someone who actually cares, or you’re just waiting for a mess.there’s always that one person who thinks “out of sight, out of mind” applies under the sink.
I get the “out of sight, out of mind” thing, but honestly, I’d rather have the trap in the kitchen where I can keep an eye (and nose) on it. At least then you know when it’s time to deal with the gunk, instead of waiting for a disaster to bubble up from the depths. Underground sounds fancy until you forget about it for six months and suddenly your backyard smells like a swamp. Give me the gross but manageable option any day.
Kitchen trap all the way. When we moved in, the previous owners had an underground one and it was a nightmare. Out of sight meant out of mind for them, and by the time we noticed anything was wrong, the whole side yard reeked. Had to pay extra for someone to come dig it up and clean it out. At least with the kitchen trap, yeah, it’s gross, but you know when it needs attention. I’d rather deal with a little stink inside than a giant mess outside that sneaks up on you. Not sure why anyone would want to deal with that kind of surprise.
At least with the kitchen trap, yeah, it’s gross, but you know when it needs attention.
That’s been my experience too. I’ve had tenants ignore underground traps for years, and by the time anyone notices, it’s a full-blown project. With the kitchen ones, at least you can’t really forget about them—smell reminds you quick. Not fun, but way less expensive in the long run.
I get where you’re coming from. That line—
—hits home. The “reminder” is gross, but at least it’s immediate.“with the kitchen ones, at least you can’t really forget about them—smell reminds you quick”
- In-kitchen traps are a pain to clean, but you’re forced to deal with them before things get out of hand.
- Underground traps are out of sight, out of mind... until you’re dealing with a backup or a huge bill. I’ve seen one go years without maintenance and the dig-up was a nightmare.
- Cost-wise, kitchen traps are way cheaper to maintain. You just need some gloves and a strong stomach.
- Only downside: if you’ve got a busy kitchen, you might be cleaning it more often than you’d like.
Honestly, I’d rather deal with the occasional stink than a surprise excavation. Still, I get why some folks want everything hidden away—less mess in the kitchen, at least until it isn’t.
