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Gutters do a big job—they protect your home from water damage and flooding. So this fall when you are getting everything winterized, don’t forget your gutters. To do their job, gutters and downspouts must be free of leaves and debris. If they aren’t, drain outlets will dam up and rainwater will fill the gutters, back up, overflow and eventually pull gutters loose from their mountings. The water that pools in troughs will rot wood gutters and rust sheet metal ones. Cleaning gutters is an easy way to save money and preserve your home’s value at the same time.
Gutters should be cleaned at least twice a year. If you have trees overhanging your roof, plan on cleaning them more often. But unless you’re sure of yourself on a ladder or can work safely from your home’s roof, consider paying a professional to do the work.
If you decide to clean the gutters yourself, make sure you have a sturdy ladder and place it on a level, solid base. Stepladders often work better than extension ladders. Follow all the safety directions for using a ladder and never stand on the top rungs. Working directly from the roof also is an option if your home’s roof isn’t too steeply pitched. Cleaning gutters is one job you want to do when the weather is dry and there is no wind. Even a slight breeze can cause problems when you’re working higher up. Wear shoes with non-slip soles and be sure to check the location of any nearby utility or telephone lines. Use work gloves to protect your hands from sharp metal parts or screws in the gutters, and be sure to wear safety glasses or goggles.
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Iowa is bordered on two sides by rivers; the Mississippi separates it on the east from Wisconsin and Illinois, and the Missouri and the Big Sioux separate it on the west from Nebraska and South Dakota. The state is bounded on the north by Minnesota and on the south by Missouri. Iowa is an area of rich, rolling plains, interrupted by many rivers. The terrain is low and gently sloping, except for the hills in the unglaciated area of NE Iowa, the steeply sloping bluffs on the banks of the Mississippi, and the moundlike bluffs on the banks of the Missouri. The rivers of the eastern two thirds of Iowa flow to the Mississippi; those of the west flow to the Missouri. The original woodlands, which included black walnut and hickory, were destroyed by lumbering and land clearing in the 19th cent., and present wooded sections are covered only with second or third growths of timber. Only 0.1% of Iowa, the lowest total in the 50 states, is owned by the federal government.
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