Hot and cold water pipes switched in bathroom
Discovering the water Mix-Up
After the power to the water heater was restored, I waited for the water to heat up. That's when I noticed the toilet making an unusual noise. The only recent change was the restoration of hot water. Upon touching the toilet reservoir, I found it was hot. Testing the water basin tap, I realized hot water was coming from the cold side and vice versa.
The shower problem
I assumed that reversing the shower mixer would solve the issue. However, the shower's mechanism allowed only fully hot or fully cold water, making a comfortable shower impossible.
It is explained in more details why the shower behaves this way in the following Youtube video:
A timeline of inaction and frustration
Reaching out to MCR Homes
Sunday 16 July Unable to reach MCR Homes by phone, I emailed them about the issue and included the electrician bill from the No Hot Water issue. I indicated my intention to hire a plumber if they didn't respond by noon Monday. Given it was Sunday and not an emergency, I decided to wait until Monday to take further action.
MCR Homes' delayed and ineffective response
Monday 17 July Monday brought a call from MCR Homes. I explained I had to call a plubmer to fix the hot water issue and that the hot and cold water pipes were switched. But they didn't seem to care about the situation.
Thursday 20 July MCR Homes called to inform me they would send someone the following Monday to inspect the issue. This delayed response was frustrating.
This phone call was followed by this email:
More MCR Homes disorganisation
Monday 24 July Returning home, I found no evidence of any visit or repair work. The toilet was still flushing hot water.
Tuesday 25 July MCR Homes emailed to explain they couldn't access the flat on Monday and requested access for Wednesday. They also mentioned that the contractor would be on holiday soon, making Wednesday the only viable day for repairs. Their contractor holidays should not be my problem. But as we know, MCR Homes doesn't really care about the situations they put you in. Fortunately, I was able to work from home on Wednesday. Had I not, the repair would have been delayed even further.
The repair finaly occurs
Wednesday 26 July The contractor fixed the issue within an hour but created two new holes in the bathroom ceiling.
Conclusion
Hiring an electrician fixes the issue quickly but at a personal cost. Waiting for MCR Homes results in delays and frustration but doesn't impact your wallet.
You must decide what matters more: time or money. MCR Homes seems indifferent to the urgency of issues.
What now? Surely there are no more issues. What else could they have done? You now have a flat without holes in it, hot water and can take a shower. What sort of crazy thing MCR Homes could have done now? Sabotage, MCR Homes sabotaged the washing machine by installing a plug in the water drain, preventing water from exiting the machine; leaving a wet mess.
Other issues: