Grumpy, are you staying warm?

[Grumpy Goat]

[quote='Grumpy Goat' pid='5248' dateline='1613780028']
Not sure how I could drain our pipes other than turning off the main shutoff, opening the faucets and flushing the toilets.
I should talk to a plumber sometime.

That would not hurt, but as an RV owner I do have some insight. Also, I did watch a plumber on TV this week describing how it should be done.

After the main shutoff servicing the property (in my house it is in the front lawn in a covered dry well adjacent to the gauge the meter reader reads) is closed, locate and close off any secondary shutoff valve you may have. I have such a shutoff in my garage behind a cover that is screwed on to the drywall.

Draining involves opening all the internal faucets to a 50-50 blend of hot and cold water. Also, don't forget to open the outside spigots (hose bibs). After about 10 minutes all should be quiet. That's it. No need to flush the toilets - save the one flush you already have.

Although the plumber did not say it, and recognizing that the valve in the front lawn is the lowest point meaning that there is still water in my system at its lowest points, I leave all faucets / bibs open. This way any undrainable water that freezes will expand upwards and not exert any transverse (hoop stress) on the pipes.

In RVs, there are "low point drains" which when opened results in a complete drain of the system so that there is only air inside. No such luck with a house.