Heating system for potable water and relatively small areas

A heating system for a recreational vehicle, comprising:

• a primary water heater located in the recreational vehicle;
• a primary water storage vessel associated with the primary water heater;
• a pre-heater in communication with and installed upstream of the primary water heater, the pre-heater including a supplemental heat source independent of the primary water heater;
• and
• a secondary water storage vessel associated with the pre-heater, the secondary water storage vessel having a substantially smaller water volume storage capacity than that of the primary water storage vessel;
• wherein the pre-heater heats water prior to the water being heated by the primary heater, thereby tending to provide a substantially constant flow of water at a preselected temperature.

A supplemental heating system for heating a first fluid, the supplemental heating system being configured for use in a recreational vehicle, the recreational vehicle having a primary heating system that also heats the first fluid, the supplemental heating system comprising:

• a supplemental heating element independent from the primary heating system that heats a second fluid;
• and
• a heat exchanging component removably fitted into the recreational vehicle and having a first fluid conduit for permitting the first fluid to enter and exit the heat exchanging component, and a second fluid conduit for permitting the second fluid to enter and exit the heat exchanging component;
• wherein heat from the second fluid is transferred to the first fluid within the heat exchanging component to provide a heating operation of the first fluid independent of the primary heating system of the recreational vehicle.