Well folks- all good here now. It always was really, I just had to get up to speed being new to having a woodstove and all. The stove pipe is double walled, so I've concluded a seemingly low reading of 250* is actually good, no problemswith a clean chimney. I also run routinely now at 500- 550* in the box. Guess my biggest fear was the exposed wood beam ceiling and the close, 10 inch proximity to the collar. All these ocncerns have been put to rest now and I'm sittin' pretty, and cozy..........