How to Hire a Plumber in Malta
A leak rarely waits for a good time. This guide shows what to do in the first few minutes, which problems are yours and which are the Water Services Corporation's, and how to pick a plumber you can trust.
Updated 3 November 2026 · 7 min read
In an emergency, do this before you call anyone
Most water damage happens in the time between noticing the leak and the plumber arriving. Turning the water off is the one job you should always do yourself. Find your stopcock now, on a quiet day, so you are not hunting for it with water on the floor.
For a burst pipe, the Water Services Corporation (WSC) advises catching the water in a bucket if you can, turning off the stopcock (often under the kitchen sink, in an under-stairs cupboard, cellar or garage, or just behind the front door) and then opening the kitchen taps to drain the system. Do not touch wiring or switches that may be wet. If in doubt, turn the electricity off at the mains with dry hands.
SourceIf you cannot do this yourself and nobody is around to help, WSC asks you to call its customer care on 8007 6400.
Source
Photos help twice. The plumber can bring the right parts, and you have a record if a neighbour, a landlord or an insurer gets involved.
Your pipes or WSC's? Know who fixes what
Before you pay a plumber, check whether the problem is yours to fix at all. Some faults belong to the Water Services Corporation, and they fix those free of charge.
WSC says you are responsible for repairing any leaks on the pipework inside your home. You are also responsible for maintaining the supply pipe that brings water from WSC's main in the street into your home, although WSC may be able to repair it if it leaks. Leaks in the road or footpath should be reported to WSC.
SourceFor a blocked drain, WSC sends an engineer when the blockage may be in its pipes, aiming to arrive within 48 hours (up to 72 hours in busy periods such as heavy rain). If the blocked pipes are WSC's, it clears them free of charge. If the blockage is in your private drains, WSC cannot clear it, but gives advice.
SourceWSC says its water pressure should fill a 4.5 litre container in 30 seconds. This does not apply when the drop is caused by emergency or planned works, or by problems in your own pipework. Check with more than one neighbour first: if they have low pressure too, it is likely the network.
Source| Problem | Call first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Water leaking in the street or footpath | WSC | It is their network. Report it on 8007 6400. |
| Low pressure in the whole street | WSC | Neighbours affected too usually means works or a fault on the network. |
| Low pressure in your home only | A plumber | Often a pump, a valve, a blocked filter or a leak on your side. |
| Blocked drain, not sure whose pipe | WSC | They check, and clear it free of charge if the pipe is theirs. |
| Blocked sink, toilet or private drain | A plumber | Private drains are yours to clear. |
| Leak inside the home or on your roof tank | A plumber | Pipework inside your home is your responsibility. |
| New circuit for a water heater | An authorised electrician | Electrical work needs a REWS authorisation. |
Check for a hidden leak with your meter
A water bill that jumps for no reason is often the first sign of a hidden leak. WSC publishes a simple test you can do before you call anyone. It also tells the plumber which part of the system to look at, which saves time and money.
WSC's leak test: close the stopcock feeding your roof tank and the one just behind the meter, with every tap, washing machine and dishwasher off. Note the full meter reading, wait 30 minutes, reopen the stopcock by the meter and check the reading. Any increase means a leak between the meter and the roof tank. Then close the tank's outlet stopcock and watch the vent pipe or the tank's water level: any drop points to a leak inside the house.
SourceTo check a toilet, WSC suggests closing the valve that feeds the cistern, adding a little food colouring to the water and marking the level. If after 15 minutes the level drops or colour shows in the bowl, the flush is leaking.
Source"The meter moves with everything off" or "the roof tank level drops overnight" helps a plumber more than "my bill is high". They can bring the right tools for tracing a leak, and quote more accurately.
What to check before you hire
Unlike electricians, who need a REWS authorisation for installation work, we could not find a licence or public register for plumbers in Malta. So the checks fall to you. These are the ones that matter most.
- Recent, similar work. Ask what they fixed last week that looks like your job. A plumber who mostly fits bathrooms may not be the fastest at tracing a leak in a wall.
- A written price. For anything beyond a quick repair, ask for a written quote that lists parts and labour separately.
- Who makes good. If tiles or plaster come up, ask who puts them back and whether that is in the price.
- A guarantee. Ask what happens if the leak comes back next month.
- Reviews you can trust. Read a few recent ones and ask a neighbour. A plumber who works in your area often knows the buildings.
- Gas is a different job. If the work touches a gas cooker, a boiler or an LPG supply, ask for someone who does gas work and what approvals they hold.
Under the Electrical Installations Regulations (S.L. 545.24), installing, altering, extending or certifying an electrical installation needs an authorisation issued by the Regulator for Energy and Water Services (REWS). A new water heater or pump on a new circuit needs this, even if a plumber fits the unit.
SourceIf your job needs both trades, read how to hire an electrician in Malta too, and agree who does what before anyone starts.
Questions to ask on the phone
Send photos or a short video before the visit. A plumber who can see the pipe, the tank or the leak can tell you whether it is a quick fix or a bigger job, and can often give you a rough idea of the work before driving over.
What changes the price
We do not publish plumbing prices, because they change with every job and every plumber. What you can do is understand what drives the bill, so you can compare quotes fairly.
| What | Why it changes the price |
|---|---|
| Urgency and time of day | Evening, weekend and same-day visits usually cost more than a booked slot. |
| How easy the pipes are to reach | A pipe behind a tiled wall takes longer than one under a sink. |
| Finding the leak | Tracing a hidden leak can take longer than fixing it. |
| Parts | Ask whether parts are included, and which brand they fit. |
| Making good | Replacing tiles or plaster may be extra, or a different trade. |
| Size of the job | Repairs are usually priced on the visit and the time; a new bathroom is quoted as a whole job. |
The surprise on most plumbing bills is the callout or the extra visit for a missing part. Ask about both on the phone, and get the price for the job itself before work starts.
Red flags to watch for
- They will not give any idea of price, or put it in writing, before they start.
- They want to break open walls or floors before trying to locate the leak.
- They push a full replacement when you asked for a repair, without explaining why.
- They offer to connect rainwater from your roof or yard to the sewer.
- They are vague about who will fix the tiles or plaster afterwards.
WSC says it is illegal to discharge rainwater runoff from an exposed area into the sewer system. Gullies and gutters in exposed areas must not be connected to the sewer, because rainwater overloads the network and causes overflows into streets and private property.
SourceFind a plumber in Malta
Tminta lists plumbers across Malta and Gozo. Contact them directly, ask the questions above and send photos first. For small jobs around the house, such as a dripping tap or a loose fitting, a handyman can also help, and our guide on finding a reliable handyman in Malta shows what to check.
Questions people ask
How much does a plumber cost in Malta?
It depends on the job more than anything. A quick repair is mostly the callout and the time. Hidden leaks, deep blockages and new bathrooms cost more because of the labour, the parts and the making good. Send photos, ask for a written quote with parts and labour listed separately, and agree any callout charge on the phone.
Is there a 24/7 plumber in Malta?
Some plumbers take emergency calls in the evening or at weekends, but availability changes, so ask directly and agree the out-of-hours charge first. While you wait, turn off the stopcock, open the kitchen taps to drain the system and keep away from any wet switches. For leaks in the street, call WSC on 8007 6400.
Who pays for a leak before the water meter?
WSC says you are responsible for the pipework inside your home and for maintaining the supply pipe from the main in the street, though it may repair that pipe if it leaks. Leaks in the road or footpath are WSC's to fix, so report them to WSC rather than calling a plumber.
Will WSC unblock my drain for free?
Only if the blocked pipe is theirs. Call WSC if you are not sure whose pipe it is. They send an engineer, aiming to arrive within 48 hours, and clear it free of charge if it is part of their network. A blockage in your private drains is yours to clear, usually with a plumber.