diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index fe8319e..44876c9 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -83,10 +83,11 @@
 //! assert_ne!(recursive_bst, RecursiveBST::new());
 //! ```
 
-use std::cmp::{max, Ordering};
-use std::collections::VecDeque;
 use std::fmt::{Debug, Display, Formatter};
 use std::vec::IntoIter;
+use crate::node::{HeapNode, Node};
+
+mod node;
 
 /// A trait containing all the common operations of Binary Search Trees.
 ///
@@ -355,8 +356,6 @@ pub trait BinarySearchTree<T: Ord> {
     fn into_level_order_iter(self) -> IntoIter<T>;
 }
 
-type HeapNode<T> = Option<Box<Node<T>>>;
-
 /// A Recursive Binary Search Tree implementation, defined as `RecursiveBST<T>` where T _must_
 /// implement trait [Ord].
 ///
@@ -385,13 +384,6 @@ pub struct IterativeBST<T: Ord> {
     size: usize,
 }
 
-#[derive(Debug)]
-struct Node<T: Ord> {
-    value: T,
-    left: HeapNode<T>,
-    right: HeapNode<T>,
-}
-
 impl<T: Ord> IterativeBST<T> {
     /// Creates an empty `IterativeBST<T>`
     ///
@@ -2111,562 +2103,4 @@ impl<T: Ord> BinarySearchTree<T> for RecursiveBST<T> {
         Node::recursive_consume_level_order_vec(self.root, &mut elements);
         elements.into_iter()
     }
-}
-
-impl<T: Ord> Node<T> {
-    fn new(value: T) -> Node<T> {
-        Node {
-            value,
-            left: None,
-            right: None,
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_insert(mut root: &mut HeapNode<T>, value: T) -> Result<(), ()> {
-        while let Some(ref mut node) = root {
-            match value.cmp(&node.value) {
-                Ordering::Equal => return Err(()),
-                Ordering::Less => root = &mut node.left,
-                Ordering::Greater => root = &mut node.right,
-            }
-        }
-        *root = Some(Box::new(Node::new(value)));
-
-        Ok(())
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_insert(&mut self, value: T) -> Result<(), ()> {
-        match value.cmp(&self.value) {
-            Ordering::Equal => Err(()),
-            Ordering::Less => match self.left {
-                None => {
-                    self.left = Some(Box::from(Node::new(value)));
-                    Ok(())
-                }
-                Some(ref mut node) => node.recursive_insert(value),
-            },
-            Ordering::Greater => match self.right {
-                None => {
-                    self.right = Some(Box::from(Node::new(value)));
-                    Ok(())
-                }
-                Some(ref mut node) => node.recursive_insert(value),
-            },
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_contains(mut root: &HeapNode<T>, value: &T) -> bool {
-        while let Some(current) = root {
-            match value.cmp(&current.value) {
-                Ordering::Equal => return true,
-                Ordering::Less => root = &current.left,
-                Ordering::Greater => root = &current.right,
-            }
-        }
-
-        false
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_contains(&self, value: &T) -> bool {
-        match value.cmp(&self.value) {
-            Ordering::Equal => true,
-            Ordering::Less => match self.left {
-                None => false,
-                Some(ref node) => node.recursive_contains(value),
-            },
-            Ordering::Greater => match self.right {
-                None => false,
-                Some(ref node) => node.recursive_contains(value),
-            },
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_retrieve<'a>(mut root: &'a HeapNode<T>, value: &T) -> Option<&'a T> {
-        while let Some(current) = root {
-            match value.cmp(&current.value) {
-                Ordering::Equal => return Some(&current.value),
-                Ordering::Less => root = &current.left,
-                Ordering::Greater => root = &current.right,
-            }
-        }
-
-        None
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_retrieve(&self, value: &T) -> Option<&T> {
-        match value.cmp(&self.value) {
-            Ordering::Equal => Some(&self.value),
-            Ordering::Less => match self.left {
-                None => None,
-                Some(ref node) => node.recursive_retrieve(value),
-            },
-            Ordering::Greater => match self.right {
-                None => None,
-                Some(ref node) => node.recursive_retrieve(value),
-            },
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_retrieve_as_mut<'a>(
-        mut root: &'a mut HeapNode<T>,
-        value: &T,
-    ) -> Option<&'a mut T> {
-        while let Some(current) = root {
-            match value.cmp(&current.value) {
-                Ordering::Equal => return Some(&mut current.value),
-                Ordering::Less => root = &mut current.left,
-                Ordering::Greater => root = &mut current.right,
-            }
-        }
-
-        None
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_retrieve_as_mut(&mut self, value: &T) -> Option<&mut T> {
-        match value.cmp(&self.value) {
-            Ordering::Equal => Some(&mut self.value),
-            Ordering::Less => match self.left {
-                None => None,
-                Some(ref mut node) => node.recursive_retrieve_as_mut(value),
-            },
-            Ordering::Greater => match self.right {
-                None => None,
-                Some(ref mut node) => node.recursive_retrieve_as_mut(value),
-            },
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_height(root: &HeapNode<T>) -> isize {
-        let mut height = -1;
-        let mut queue = VecDeque::new();
-        queue.push_front(root);
-
-        while !queue.is_empty() {
-            let mut size = queue.len();
-            while size > 0 {
-                let current = queue.pop_front().as_ref().unwrap().as_ref().unwrap();
-                if current.left.is_some() {
-                    queue.push_back(&current.left);
-                }
-                if current.right.is_some() {
-                    queue.push_back(&current.right);
-                }
-                size -= 1;
-            }
-            height += 1;
-        }
-
-        height
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_height(root: &HeapNode<T>) -> isize {
-        match root {
-            None => -1,
-            Some(node) => {
-                1 + max(
-                    Node::recursive_height(&node.left),
-                    Node::recursive_height(&node.right),
-                )
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_remove(mut root: &mut HeapNode<T>, value: &T) -> Result<(), ()> {
-        while let Some(ref mut current) = root {
-            match value.cmp(&current.value) {
-                Ordering::Less => root = &mut root.as_mut().unwrap().left,
-                Ordering::Greater => root = &mut root.as_mut().unwrap().right,
-                Ordering::Equal => {
-                    match (current.left.as_mut(), current.right.as_mut()) {
-                        (None, None) => *root = None,
-                        (Some(_), None) => *root = current.left.take(),
-                        (None, Some(_)) => *root = current.right.take(),
-                        (Some(_), Some(_)) => {
-                            root.as_mut().unwrap().value =
-                                Node::iterative_remove_min(&mut current.right).unwrap()
-                        }
-                    }
-
-                    return Ok(());
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        Err(())
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_remove(root: &mut HeapNode<T>, value: &T) -> Result<(), ()> {
-        if let Some(ref mut node) = root {
-            return match value.cmp(&node.value) {
-                Ordering::Less => Node::recursive_remove(&mut node.left, value),
-                Ordering::Greater => Node::recursive_remove(&mut node.right, value),
-                Ordering::Equal => {
-                    match (&node.left, &node.right) {
-                        (None, None) => *root = None,
-                        (Some(_), None) => *root = node.left.take(),
-                        (None, Some(_)) => *root = node.right.take(),
-                        (Some(_), Some(_)) => {
-                            node.value = Node::recursive_remove_min(&mut node.right).unwrap()
-                        }
-                    }
-
-                    Ok(())
-                }
-            };
-        }
-
-        Err(())
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_min(mut root: &HeapNode<T>) -> Option<&T> {
-        while let Some(current) = root {
-            if current.left.is_none() {
-                return Some(&current.value);
-            }
-            root = &current.left;
-        }
-
-        None
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_min(&self) -> Option<&T> {
-        match &self.left {
-            None => Some(&self.value),
-            Some(node) => node.recursive_min(),
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_max(mut root: &HeapNode<T>) -> Option<&T> {
-        while let Some(current) = root {
-            if current.right.is_none() {
-                return Some(&current.value);
-            }
-            root = &current.right;
-        }
-
-        None
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_max(&self) -> Option<&T> {
-        match &self.right {
-            None => Some(&self.value),
-            Some(node) => node.recursive_max(),
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_remove_min(mut root: &mut HeapNode<T>) -> Option<T> {
-        if root.is_some() {
-            while root.as_ref().unwrap().left.is_some() {
-                root = &mut root.as_mut().unwrap().left
-            }
-
-            let node = root.take().unwrap();
-            *root = node.right;
-            return Some(node.value);
-        }
-
-        None
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_remove_min(root: &mut HeapNode<T>) -> Option<T> {
-        if root.as_ref().unwrap().left.is_some() {
-            Node::recursive_remove_min(&mut root.as_mut().unwrap().left)
-        } else {
-            let node = root.take().unwrap();
-            *root = node.right;
-            Some(node.value)
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_remove_max(mut root: &mut HeapNode<T>) -> Option<T> {
-        if root.is_some() {
-            while root.as_ref().unwrap().right.is_some() {
-                root = &mut root.as_mut().unwrap().right
-            }
-
-            let node = root.take().unwrap();
-            *root = node.left;
-            return Some(node.value);
-        }
-
-        None
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_remove_max(root: &mut HeapNode<T>) -> Option<T> {
-        if root.as_ref().unwrap().right.is_some() {
-            Node::recursive_remove_max(&mut root.as_mut().unwrap().right)
-        } else {
-            let node = root.take().unwrap();
-            *root = node.left;
-            Some(node.value)
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_pre_order_vec(node: &HeapNode<T>) -> Vec<&T> {
-        let mut elements = Vec::new();
-        let mut stack = vec![node.as_ref()];
-
-        while let Some(current) = stack.pop().unwrap_or(None) {
-            elements.push(&current.value);
-            if current.right.is_some() {
-                stack.push(current.right.as_ref());
-            }
-            if current.left.is_some() {
-                stack.push(current.left.as_ref());
-            }
-        }
-
-        elements
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_pre_order_vec<'a>(node: &'a HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<&'a T>) {
-        if let Some(ref node) = node {
-            elements.push(&node.value);
-            Node::recursive_pre_order_vec(&node.left, elements);
-            Node::recursive_pre_order_vec(&node.right, elements);
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_in_order_vec(mut root: &HeapNode<T>) -> Vec<&T> {
-        let mut elements = Vec::new();
-        let mut stack = Vec::new();
-
-        while !stack.is_empty() || root.is_some() {
-            if root.is_some() {
-                stack.push(root);
-                root = &root.as_ref().unwrap().left;
-            } else {
-                let node = stack.pop().unwrap();
-                elements.push(&node.as_ref().unwrap().value);
-                root = &node.as_ref().unwrap().right;
-            }
-        }
-
-        elements
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_in_order_vec<'a>(node: &'a HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<&'a T>) {
-        if let Some(ref node) = node {
-            Node::recursive_in_order_vec(&node.left, elements);
-            elements.push(&node.value);
-            Node::recursive_in_order_vec(&node.right, elements);
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_post_order_vec(root: &HeapNode<T>) -> Vec<&T> {
-        let mut elements = Vec::new();
-        let mut stack_one = vec![root];
-        let mut stack_two = vec![];
-
-        while let Some(node) = stack_one.pop().unwrap_or(&None) {
-            if node.left.is_some() {
-                stack_one.push(&node.left);
-            }
-            if node.right.is_some() {
-                stack_one.push(&node.right);
-            }
-            stack_two.push(node);
-        }
-
-        while let Some(node) = stack_two.pop() {
-            elements.push(&node.value);
-        }
-
-        elements
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_post_order_vec<'a>(node: &'a HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<&'a T>) {
-        if let Some(ref node) = node {
-            Node::recursive_post_order_vec(&node.left, elements);
-            Node::recursive_post_order_vec(&node.right, elements);
-            elements.push(&node.value);
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_level_order_vec(root: &HeapNode<T>) -> Vec<&T> {
-        let mut elements = Vec::new();
-        let mut deque = VecDeque::new();
-        deque.push_front(root.as_ref());
-
-        while let Some(current) = deque.pop_front().unwrap_or(None) {
-            elements.push(&current.value);
-            if current.left.is_some() {
-                deque.push_back(current.left.as_ref());
-            }
-            if current.right.is_some() {
-                deque.push_back(current.right.as_ref());
-            }
-        }
-
-        elements
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_level_order_vec<'a>(root: &'a HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<&'a T>) {
-        let height = Node::recursive_height(root);
-        for i in 1..=height + 1 {
-            Node::recursive_current_level(root, elements, i);
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_current_level<'a>(root: &'a HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<&'a T>, level: isize) {
-        if root.is_some() {
-            match level.cmp(&1) {
-                Ordering::Less => {}
-                Ordering::Equal => elements.push(&root.as_ref().unwrap().value),
-                Ordering::Greater => {
-                    Node::recursive_current_level(
-                        &root.as_ref().unwrap().left,
-                        elements,
-                        level - 1,
-                    );
-                    Node::recursive_current_level(
-                        &root.as_ref().unwrap().right,
-                        elements,
-                        level - 1,
-                    );
-                }
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_consume_pre_order_vec(node: HeapNode<T>) -> Vec<T> {
-        let mut elements = Vec::new();
-        let mut stack = vec![node];
-
-        while let Some(current) = stack.pop().unwrap_or(None) {
-            elements.push(current.value);
-            if current.right.is_some() {
-                stack.push(current.right);
-            }
-            if current.left.is_some() {
-                stack.push(current.left);
-            }
-        }
-
-        elements
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_consume_pre_order_vec(node: HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<T>) {
-        if let Some(node) = node {
-            elements.push(node.value);
-            Node::recursive_consume_pre_order_vec(node.left, elements);
-            Node::recursive_consume_pre_order_vec(node.right, elements);
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_consume_in_order_vec(root: HeapNode<T>) -> Vec<T> {
-        let mut elements = Vec::new();
-        let mut stack = vec![root];
-
-        while !stack.is_empty() {
-            if let Some(mut current) = stack.pop().unwrap() {
-                if current.left.is_some() {
-                    let left_node = current.left.take();
-                    stack.push(Some(current));
-                    stack.push(left_node);
-                } else {
-                    let right_node = current.right.take();
-                    elements.push(current.value);
-                    stack.push(right_node);
-                }
-            }
-        }
-
-        elements
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_consume_in_order_vec(node: HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<T>) {
-        if let Some(node) = node {
-            Node::recursive_consume_in_order_vec(node.left, elements);
-            elements.push(node.value);
-            Node::recursive_consume_in_order_vec(node.right, elements);
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_consume_post_order_vec(root: HeapNode<T>) -> Vec<T> {
-        let mut elements = Vec::new();
-        let mut stack_one = vec![root];
-        let mut stack_two = vec![];
-
-        while let Some(mut node) = stack_one.pop().unwrap_or(None) {
-            if let Some(left_node) = node.left.take() {
-                stack_one.push(Some(left_node));
-            }
-            if let Some(right_node) = node.right.take() {
-                stack_one.push(Some(right_node));
-            }
-            stack_two.push(node);
-        }
-
-        while let Some(node) = stack_two.pop() {
-            elements.push(node.value);
-        }
-
-        elements
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_consume_post_order_vec(node: HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<T>) {
-        if let Some(node) = node {
-            Node::recursive_consume_post_order_vec(node.left, elements);
-            Node::recursive_consume_post_order_vec(node.right, elements);
-            elements.push(node.value);
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn iterative_consume_level_order_vec(root: HeapNode<T>) -> Vec<T> {
-        let mut elements = Vec::new();
-        let mut deque = VecDeque::new();
-        deque.push_front(root);
-
-        while let Some(current) = deque.pop_front().unwrap_or(None) {
-            elements.push(current.value);
-            if current.left.is_some() {
-                deque.push_back(current.left);
-            }
-            if current.right.is_some() {
-                deque.push_back(current.right);
-            }
-        }
-
-        elements
-    }
-
-    fn recursive_consume_level_order_vec(root: HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<T>) {
-        let height = Node::recursive_height(&root);
-        for i in 0..height + 1 {
-            // SAFETY: this is sound because dealloc_boxes ensures that the elements don't
-            // get dropped again
-            unsafe { Node::write_level_into_vec(&root, elements, i) };
-        }
-        Node::dealloc_boxes(root);
-    }
-
-    /// # Safety
-    ///
-    /// The caller must ensure that the values contained in the heap are not dropped again.
-    ///
-    /// Otherwise this could lead to a double free.
-    unsafe fn write_level_into_vec(root: &HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<T>, level: isize) {
-        if let Some(node) = root {
-            if level == 0 {
-                // "move" the value without actually moving
-                let element = std::ptr::read(&node.value);
-                elements.push(element);
-            } else {
-                Node::write_level_into_vec(&node.left, elements, level - 1);
-                Node::write_level_into_vec(&node.right, elements, level - 1);
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn dealloc_boxes(root: HeapNode<T>) {
-        if let Some(node) = root {
-            // move out of the box by de-referencing to drop it and destructure the `Node`
-            let Node { value, left, right } = *node;
-            // ensure that the value is not dropped again by forgetting it
-            std::mem::forget(value);
-            Node::dealloc_boxes(left);
-            Node::dealloc_boxes(right);
-        }
-    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/node.rs b/src/node.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0241cb7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/node.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,569 @@
+use std::cmp::{max, Ordering};
+use std::collections::VecDeque;
+
+pub(crate) type HeapNode<T> = Option<Box<Node<T>>>;
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub(crate) struct Node<T: Ord> {
+    value: T,
+    left: HeapNode<T>,
+    right: HeapNode<T>,
+}
+
+impl<T: Ord> Node<T> {
+    pub(crate) fn new(value: T) -> Node<T> {
+        Node {
+            value,
+            left: None,
+            right: None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_insert(mut root: &mut HeapNode<T>, value: T) -> Result<(), ()> {
+        while let Some(ref mut node) = root {
+            match value.cmp(&node.value) {
+                Ordering::Equal => return Err(()),
+                Ordering::Less => root = &mut node.left,
+                Ordering::Greater => root = &mut node.right,
+            }
+        }
+        *root = Some(Box::new(Node::new(value)));
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_insert(&mut self, value: T) -> Result<(), ()> {
+        match value.cmp(&self.value) {
+            Ordering::Equal => Err(()),
+            Ordering::Less => match self.left {
+                None => {
+                    self.left = Some(Box::from(Node::new(value)));
+                    Ok(())
+                }
+                Some(ref mut node) => node.recursive_insert(value),
+            },
+            Ordering::Greater => match self.right {
+                None => {
+                    self.right = Some(Box::from(Node::new(value)));
+                    Ok(())
+                }
+                Some(ref mut node) => node.recursive_insert(value),
+            },
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_contains(mut root: &HeapNode<T>, value: &T) -> bool {
+        while let Some(current) = root {
+            match value.cmp(&current.value) {
+                Ordering::Equal => return true,
+                Ordering::Less => root = &current.left,
+                Ordering::Greater => root = &current.right,
+            }
+        }
+
+        false
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_contains(&self, value: &T) -> bool {
+        match value.cmp(&self.value) {
+            Ordering::Equal => true,
+            Ordering::Less => match self.left {
+                None => false,
+                Some(ref node) => node.recursive_contains(value),
+            },
+            Ordering::Greater => match self.right {
+                None => false,
+                Some(ref node) => node.recursive_contains(value),
+            },
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_retrieve<'a>(mut root: &'a HeapNode<T>, value: &T) -> Option<&'a T> {
+        while let Some(current) = root {
+            match value.cmp(&current.value) {
+                Ordering::Equal => return Some(&current.value),
+                Ordering::Less => root = &current.left,
+                Ordering::Greater => root = &current.right,
+            }
+        }
+
+        None
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_retrieve(&self, value: &T) -> Option<&T> {
+        match value.cmp(&self.value) {
+            Ordering::Equal => Some(&self.value),
+            Ordering::Less => match self.left {
+                None => None,
+                Some(ref node) => node.recursive_retrieve(value),
+            },
+            Ordering::Greater => match self.right {
+                None => None,
+                Some(ref node) => node.recursive_retrieve(value),
+            },
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_retrieve_as_mut<'a>(
+        mut root: &'a mut HeapNode<T>,
+        value: &T,
+    ) -> Option<&'a mut T> {
+        while let Some(current) = root {
+            match value.cmp(&current.value) {
+                Ordering::Equal => return Some(&mut current.value),
+                Ordering::Less => root = &mut current.left,
+                Ordering::Greater => root = &mut current.right,
+            }
+        }
+
+        None
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_retrieve_as_mut(&mut self, value: &T) -> Option<&mut T> {
+        match value.cmp(&self.value) {
+            Ordering::Equal => Some(&mut self.value),
+            Ordering::Less => match self.left {
+                None => None,
+                Some(ref mut node) => node.recursive_retrieve_as_mut(value),
+            },
+            Ordering::Greater => match self.right {
+                None => None,
+                Some(ref mut node) => node.recursive_retrieve_as_mut(value),
+            },
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_height(root: &HeapNode<T>) -> isize {
+        let mut height = -1;
+        let mut queue = VecDeque::new();
+        queue.push_front(root);
+
+        while !queue.is_empty() {
+            let mut size = queue.len();
+            while size > 0 {
+                let current = queue.pop_front().as_ref().unwrap().as_ref().unwrap();
+                if current.left.is_some() {
+                    queue.push_back(&current.left);
+                }
+                if current.right.is_some() {
+                    queue.push_back(&current.right);
+                }
+                size -= 1;
+            }
+            height += 1;
+        }
+
+        height
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_height(root: &HeapNode<T>) -> isize {
+        match root {
+            None => -1,
+            Some(node) => {
+                1 + max(
+                    Node::recursive_height(&node.left),
+                    Node::recursive_height(&node.right),
+                )
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_remove(mut root: &mut HeapNode<T>, value: &T) -> Result<(), ()> {
+        while let Some(ref mut current) = root {
+            match value.cmp(&current.value) {
+                Ordering::Less => root = &mut root.as_mut().unwrap().left,
+                Ordering::Greater => root = &mut root.as_mut().unwrap().right,
+                Ordering::Equal => {
+                    match (current.left.as_mut(), current.right.as_mut()) {
+                        (None, None) => *root = None,
+                        (Some(_), None) => *root = current.left.take(),
+                        (None, Some(_)) => *root = current.right.take(),
+                        (Some(_), Some(_)) => {
+                            root.as_mut().unwrap().value =
+                                Node::iterative_remove_min(&mut current.right).unwrap()
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    return Ok(());
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        Err(())
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_remove(root: &mut HeapNode<T>, value: &T) -> Result<(), ()> {
+        if let Some(ref mut node) = root {
+            return match value.cmp(&node.value) {
+                Ordering::Less => Node::recursive_remove(&mut node.left, value),
+                Ordering::Greater => Node::recursive_remove(&mut node.right, value),
+                Ordering::Equal => {
+                    match (&node.left, &node.right) {
+                        (None, None) => *root = None,
+                        (Some(_), None) => *root = node.left.take(),
+                        (None, Some(_)) => *root = node.right.take(),
+                        (Some(_), Some(_)) => {
+                            node.value = Node::recursive_remove_min(&mut node.right).unwrap()
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    Ok(())
+                }
+            };
+        }
+
+        Err(())
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_min(mut root: &HeapNode<T>) -> Option<&T> {
+        while let Some(current) = root {
+            if current.left.is_none() {
+                return Some(&current.value);
+            }
+            root = &current.left;
+        }
+
+        None
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_min(&self) -> Option<&T> {
+        match &self.left {
+            None => Some(&self.value),
+            Some(node) => node.recursive_min(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_max(mut root: &HeapNode<T>) -> Option<&T> {
+        while let Some(current) = root {
+            if current.right.is_none() {
+                return Some(&current.value);
+            }
+            root = &current.right;
+        }
+
+        None
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_max(&self) -> Option<&T> {
+        match &self.right {
+            None => Some(&self.value),
+            Some(node) => node.recursive_max(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_remove_min(mut root: &mut HeapNode<T>) -> Option<T> {
+        if root.is_some() {
+            while root.as_ref().unwrap().left.is_some() {
+                root = &mut root.as_mut().unwrap().left
+            }
+
+            let node = root.take().unwrap();
+            *root = node.right;
+            return Some(node.value);
+        }
+
+        None
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_remove_min(root: &mut HeapNode<T>) -> Option<T> {
+        if root.as_ref().unwrap().left.is_some() {
+            Node::recursive_remove_min(&mut root.as_mut().unwrap().left)
+        } else {
+            let node = root.take().unwrap();
+            *root = node.right;
+            Some(node.value)
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_remove_max(mut root: &mut HeapNode<T>) -> Option<T> {
+        if root.is_some() {
+            while root.as_ref().unwrap().right.is_some() {
+                root = &mut root.as_mut().unwrap().right
+            }
+
+            let node = root.take().unwrap();
+            *root = node.left;
+            return Some(node.value);
+        }
+
+        None
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_remove_max(root: &mut HeapNode<T>) -> Option<T> {
+        if root.as_ref().unwrap().right.is_some() {
+            Node::recursive_remove_max(&mut root.as_mut().unwrap().right)
+        } else {
+            let node = root.take().unwrap();
+            *root = node.left;
+            Some(node.value)
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_pre_order_vec(node: &HeapNode<T>) -> Vec<&T> {
+        let mut elements = Vec::new();
+        let mut stack = vec![node.as_ref()];
+
+        while let Some(current) = stack.pop().unwrap_or(None) {
+            elements.push(&current.value);
+            if current.right.is_some() {
+                stack.push(current.right.as_ref());
+            }
+            if current.left.is_some() {
+                stack.push(current.left.as_ref());
+            }
+        }
+
+        elements
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_pre_order_vec<'a>(node: &'a HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<&'a T>) {
+        if let Some(ref node) = node {
+            elements.push(&node.value);
+            Node::recursive_pre_order_vec(&node.left, elements);
+            Node::recursive_pre_order_vec(&node.right, elements);
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_in_order_vec(mut root: &HeapNode<T>) -> Vec<&T> {
+        let mut elements = Vec::new();
+        let mut stack = Vec::new();
+
+        while !stack.is_empty() || root.is_some() {
+            if root.is_some() {
+                stack.push(root);
+                root = &root.as_ref().unwrap().left;
+            } else {
+                let node = stack.pop().unwrap();
+                elements.push(&node.as_ref().unwrap().value);
+                root = &node.as_ref().unwrap().right;
+            }
+        }
+
+        elements
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_in_order_vec<'a>(node: &'a HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<&'a T>) {
+        if let Some(ref node) = node {
+            Node::recursive_in_order_vec(&node.left, elements);
+            elements.push(&node.value);
+            Node::recursive_in_order_vec(&node.right, elements);
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_post_order_vec(root: &HeapNode<T>) -> Vec<&T> {
+        let mut elements = Vec::new();
+        let mut stack_one = vec![root];
+        let mut stack_two = vec![];
+
+        while let Some(node) = stack_one.pop().unwrap_or(&None) {
+            if node.left.is_some() {
+                stack_one.push(&node.left);
+            }
+            if node.right.is_some() {
+                stack_one.push(&node.right);
+            }
+            stack_two.push(node);
+        }
+
+        while let Some(node) = stack_two.pop() {
+            elements.push(&node.value);
+        }
+
+        elements
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_post_order_vec<'a>(node: &'a HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<&'a T>) {
+        if let Some(ref node) = node {
+            Node::recursive_post_order_vec(&node.left, elements);
+            Node::recursive_post_order_vec(&node.right, elements);
+            elements.push(&node.value);
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_level_order_vec(root: &HeapNode<T>) -> Vec<&T> {
+        let mut elements = Vec::new();
+        let mut deque = VecDeque::new();
+        deque.push_front(root.as_ref());
+
+        while let Some(current) = deque.pop_front().unwrap_or(None) {
+            elements.push(&current.value);
+            if current.left.is_some() {
+                deque.push_back(current.left.as_ref());
+            }
+            if current.right.is_some() {
+                deque.push_back(current.right.as_ref());
+            }
+        }
+
+        elements
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_level_order_vec<'a>(root: &'a HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<&'a T>) {
+        let height = Node::recursive_height(root);
+        for i in 1..=height + 1 {
+            Node::recursive_current_level(root, elements, i);
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn recursive_current_level<'a>(root: &'a HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<&'a T>, level: isize) {
+        if root.is_some() {
+            match level.cmp(&1) {
+                Ordering::Less => {}
+                Ordering::Equal => elements.push(&root.as_ref().unwrap().value),
+                Ordering::Greater => {
+                    Node::recursive_current_level(
+                        &root.as_ref().unwrap().left,
+                        elements,
+                        level - 1,
+                    );
+                    Node::recursive_current_level(
+                        &root.as_ref().unwrap().right,
+                        elements,
+                        level - 1,
+                    );
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_consume_pre_order_vec(node: HeapNode<T>) -> Vec<T> {
+        let mut elements = Vec::new();
+        let mut stack = vec![node];
+
+        while let Some(current) = stack.pop().unwrap_or(None) {
+            elements.push(current.value);
+            if current.right.is_some() {
+                stack.push(current.right);
+            }
+            if current.left.is_some() {
+                stack.push(current.left);
+            }
+        }
+
+        elements
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_consume_pre_order_vec(node: HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<T>) {
+        if let Some(node) = node {
+            elements.push(node.value);
+            Node::recursive_consume_pre_order_vec(node.left, elements);
+            Node::recursive_consume_pre_order_vec(node.right, elements);
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_consume_in_order_vec(root: HeapNode<T>) -> Vec<T> {
+        let mut elements = Vec::new();
+        let mut stack = vec![root];
+
+        while !stack.is_empty() {
+            if let Some(mut current) = stack.pop().unwrap() {
+                if current.left.is_some() {
+                    let left_node = current.left.take();
+                    stack.push(Some(current));
+                    stack.push(left_node);
+                } else {
+                    let right_node = current.right.take();
+                    elements.push(current.value);
+                    stack.push(right_node);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        elements
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_consume_in_order_vec(node: HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<T>) {
+        if let Some(node) = node {
+            Node::recursive_consume_in_order_vec(node.left, elements);
+            elements.push(node.value);
+            Node::recursive_consume_in_order_vec(node.right, elements);
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_consume_post_order_vec(root: HeapNode<T>) -> Vec<T> {
+        let mut elements = Vec::new();
+        let mut stack_one = vec![root];
+        let mut stack_two = vec![];
+
+        while let Some(mut node) = stack_one.pop().unwrap_or(None) {
+            if let Some(left_node) = node.left.take() {
+                stack_one.push(Some(left_node));
+            }
+            if let Some(right_node) = node.right.take() {
+                stack_one.push(Some(right_node));
+            }
+            stack_two.push(node);
+        }
+
+        while let Some(node) = stack_two.pop() {
+            elements.push(node.value);
+        }
+
+        elements
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_consume_post_order_vec(node: HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<T>) {
+        if let Some(node) = node {
+            Node::recursive_consume_post_order_vec(node.left, elements);
+            Node::recursive_consume_post_order_vec(node.right, elements);
+            elements.push(node.value);
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn iterative_consume_level_order_vec(root: HeapNode<T>) -> Vec<T> {
+        let mut elements = Vec::new();
+        let mut deque = VecDeque::new();
+        deque.push_front(root);
+
+        while let Some(current) = deque.pop_front().unwrap_or(None) {
+            elements.push(current.value);
+            if current.left.is_some() {
+                deque.push_back(current.left);
+            }
+            if current.right.is_some() {
+                deque.push_back(current.right);
+            }
+        }
+
+        elements
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn recursive_consume_level_order_vec(root: HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<T>) {
+        let height = Node::recursive_height(&root);
+        for i in 0..height + 1 {
+            // SAFETY: this is sound because dealloc_boxes ensures that the elements don't
+            // get dropped again
+            unsafe { Node::write_level_into_vec(&root, elements, i) };
+        }
+        Node::dealloc_boxes(root);
+    }
+
+    /// # Safety
+    ///
+    /// The caller must ensure that the values contained in the heap are not dropped again.
+    ///
+    /// Otherwise this could lead to a double free.
+    unsafe fn write_level_into_vec(root: &HeapNode<T>, elements: &mut Vec<T>, level: isize) {
+        if let Some(node) = root {
+            if level == 0 {
+                // "move" the value without actually moving
+                let element = std::ptr::read(&node.value);
+                elements.push(element);
+            } else {
+                Node::write_level_into_vec(&node.left, elements, level - 1);
+                Node::write_level_into_vec(&node.right, elements, level - 1);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn dealloc_boxes(root: HeapNode<T>) {
+        if let Some(node) = root {
+            // move out of the box by de-referencing to drop it and destructure the `Node`
+            let Node { value, left, right } = *node;
+            // ensure that the value is not dropped again by forgetting it
+            std::mem::forget(value);
+            Node::dealloc_boxes(left);
+            Node::dealloc_boxes(right);
+        }
+    }
+}