Pour antifreeze down all the drains, it fill the traps and saves the drains. Shut off the water, and drain all of the inside lines, including the toilets and hot water tanks.

Others will add to the list.

 

I winterize quite a few houses up here and I would second Arisleys post.

Make sure that you put anti feeeze in the appliances as well, dishwasher and washing machine if they are present.

On a lot of the older homes that I do we drain the system, blow it out with compressed air, and then pump anti freeze (rv) through each line from the tank. I feel that this offers the best protection because the lines sometimes have low spots that don't drain 100%. In the spring we re-pressurize the system and blow the anti freeze back out into buckets saving it for the next year, so you're not really losing much.

 

One other thing that I would add... if the house has a jet pump with a 2 or 3 inch well make sure that you pull both plugs and drain the pump housing as well. There should be a set of plugs on the front and back of the pump section.

 

One thing that you will have to do if using anti-freeze in the lines would be to install a bypass at the water heater if there isn't one already...

 

If the well is a traditional 6" casing with a pitless adapter water may remain in the line from the well to the house. It's a PITA but it's safe to pull the pitless up off the flange so the water in the line can drain back into the well.
The easiest method is to take a 1"? black iron or galvanized pipe, screw it into the top of the pitless, and lift. Once drained the pitless can be installed again, ready for next spring.

 

Greenie, I'm not sure how this would work because in my area there is always a check valve on the outside of the casing (down at the pitless level) to prevent this from happening. It wouldn't do anything to pull the pitless up.

The only thing that we ever did on some cottage wells was to install a drain valve right outside of the well casing, accessed by a piece of pipe buried vertical, that could be opened once the pump was shut off and allow the water to drain back from the house to that point.

 

Right where the water comes in on my cabin I installed a fitting for the air compressor. I use the compressor and only allow 25 psi in the system. I blow out every drain and fixture. I also blow down the water heater. Then I add the RV style antifreeze since it is compatable for use in a septic system. I also poor it down all the drains including tub and washing maching drain. Had not thought about the inside of the washer though. I also remove the little hose from each toilet tank and leave these open for winter after I have all the system drained. [don't ask]. All of the above suggestions are good. I don't have a well so the other members have input on that. Enjoy the cottage.