(MCT)—Interest rates have been at historically low levels for some time now. Some borrowers have refinanced two or three times, but there are others who so far have allowed the opportunity to pass them by.

(MCT)—Ray Terry estimates he’s personally inspected and repaired more than 4,000 dryer vents over the past 16 years as the owner of The Almetal Dryer Vent Corporation in Charlotte, N.C., and he’s seen one common problem over and over again that helps contribute to more than 15,000 dryer vent fires annually.

(MCT)—Q: I live in a condo and recently had my carpet pulled up, plywood put down, and then tile on top in my master bath dressing room. After six months, the grout in the upper area began to crumble and came out.

(MCT)—If you’re looking for something different to grow in your garden this year, the 2013 crop of plant catalogs has more than a few ideas. Plant breeders and nurseries have been paying attention to garden trends and have come up with interesting innovations. From surprising container-friendly vegetables to newfound native plants,

(MCT)—For years, traditional gas-powered tank water heaters have been one of the biggest energy hogs in the home. With tank heaters, you have to pay to heat water you aren’t even using. Not so with a tankless water heater.

(MCT)—Q: Our 1920s Colonial has a stone foundation with some sort of cement coating on the interior. Much of the coating has flaked off, exposing the mortar joints, which are disintegrating. We recently had a sump pump and French drain installed in the basement, which will eliminate much of the dampness from minor water leaks.

(MCT)—Q: I had anise bread in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator in my garage. The freezer stopped working when it got cold, and the bread thawed. Now I can’t get the anise odor out of the refrigerator and freezer. Do you have any suggestions?

(MCT)—We live in a world of gadgets. From our smartphones, to our tablets, to our audio/video components, electronic components are — for many of us — a major part of our daily lives.

There are some things you need to know about establishing a relationship with a client. First, the relationship with your client needs to be a dual one; professional and helpful. Establishing a professional relationship with clients is particularly important

(MCT)—The one job most of us do ourselves is paint. For example, I repainted the walls along the staircase after nicking them with a Morris chair we move upstairs each winter so the Christmas tree has a spot in the living room.

(MCT)—If you own a portable vacuum, do you ever wonder just how clean it’s really getting your home? Chances are it’s not getting it as clean as you thought.

(MCT)—QUESTION: We live in a community governed by a homeowner’s association. Our board is gradually ignoring more and more of our bylaws, causing the quality and appearance of the community to decline. What can I do?

(MCT)—How do you follow the purchase of an island in Hawaii? If you’re Oracle Chief Executive Larry Ellison, you buy an airline that flies to your tropical paradise.

(MCT)—While most travelers know to visit the Musee d’Orsay while in Paris or the Guggenheim Museum when in New York City, there are hundreds of buildings that get overlooked,

(MCT)—I was engaging in a bit of therapy the other day, viciously attacking a wallpaper border that had fouled my powder room for far too long. Die, hideous border, I thought as I peeled and scraped and scrubbed. Die.