Philip Buhagiar Drainage Works

Unless you work in the trade, unblocking or repairing a drain is a daunting job, and the wrong approach can make things worse. Philip Buhagiar Drainage Works is a personal service built around one technician, Philip Buhagiar, who deals with drainage and plumbing problems in homes. The business is based in Birkirkara, which most people on the island call B'Kara, one of the largest towns in the centre of Malta.

It is listed in our directory of plumbers in Malta. Because the work is done by one named tradesman, you deal with the same person from first call to finished repair, which many householders prefer for a job inside their home.

Emergencies and everyday faults

The range of problems covered runs from low water pressure to blocked sewers and burst pipes. A burst water pipe is the sort of fault that needs quick action to avoid damage to the property, and Buhagiar aims to deal with it in a timely and efficient way. Everyday jobs include cesspit cleaning and unclogging sinks, showers and toilets, which are the faults most households meet sooner or later, often when guests are staying or a rental is changing hands.

Cesspits are underground tanks that hold wastewater where a property is not connected to the main sewer, and they are common in some rural parts of the island. Cleaning one regularly stops overflows and smells and keeps the system working, and the service is one that visitors who own a countryside home are likely to need.

Diagnosis, repair and prevention

A detailed diagnosis comes first. The aim is an error-free job with a clear explanation of what was wrong, so that whether you have a constantly running toilet or a major plumbing problem, it is solved and the chances of it recurring are minimised. Drain repair work includes fixing leaking pipes and blocked drains, cleaning out gullies, flushing out gutters, and removing vermin such as rats and excess liquid waste from drains.

Buhagiar can also inspect the whole plumbing system of a home to check that everything works as it should. That covers leaky faucets, faulty pipelines and fixtures that were installed incorrectly. Those checks are useful for new arrivals in an older property, for buyers who want to know the condition of the pipework before committing, and for owners who return to a house that has stood empty for a season, and our Malta relocation guide explains what else to review when you settle in. In a wet winter, the Malta weather guide shows why gutters and gullies need attention.

Installation and maintenance

Beyond repairs, the business installs home drainage systems and the drainage equipment and accessories used in sewage systems, including valves and pipes. It also carries out maintenance, checking and repair on existing or old plumbing systems. Much of Malta's housing stock is old, from village cores to the historic streets of Valletta city streets and the Three Cities guide area, so upkeep of ageing pipework is a regular need. Valves, pipes and other fittings wear out over the years, and replacing them before they fail is usually cheaper than repairing the damage after a leak.

Landlords and owners who let out flats can read our guides to where to stay in Malta and Malta holidays to see how visitors choose properties, and why reliable plumbing matters.

Location and next steps

The business is at Flat B, Sqaq Sampusa, in B'Kara, with easy road access to Mosta, Mdina and Valletta. Our Mdina guide and about Malta pages offer background on the area.

If you are abroad and managing a property remotely, a clear description of the symptoms helps: where the water is, what has stopped working and how long it has been happening. To ask for help, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and describe the fault, and we will pass your message to Philip Buhagiar Drainage Works.