Heating problems still are frustrating residents at an East Patchogue apartment complex.

Seventy-five-year-old Sandra Bell says she has resorted to using her oven and an electric fireplace to stay warm.

She says she has repeatedly called management at the Conifer Village apartment complex about a broken heater in her apartment, but she is not getting answers.

“You’ve got to have some kind of heat coming in here,” Bell says. “They’re not doing nothing. I don’t know what to do.”

News 12 previously reported that Joanne Cady, 77, who lives in the same complex, says the refurbished heater installed by the property owner was emitting noxious fumes, which sent her to the hospital with carbon monoxide poisoning.

“It was so severe that had I kept sleeping in this environment,” Cady says. ”I was told I could have died.”

The Suffolk County Health Department says it launched an investigation into complaints about non-working heaters at Conifer Village in November. 

In another part of the complex, a 73-year-old resident who didn’t want to be identified, says she made calls to building management about the lack of a cover for her heater.

“I’m afraid the cold will hit that hot thing and they’ll be a fire,” she said. “Or they’ll be mold or something and I’m disabled and it’s very hard for me to get outside.”

News 12 is told nine cases were investigated since then and heat-related violations were cited for nine complaints. Bell also filed a formal complaint Wednesday.

The health department has initiated legal action against the property owner.

Bell hopes that will help restore heat to her apartment.

“I’m broken from it so whoever can help, I need it,” Bell says.

News 12 reached out to the property owner but has not heard back.