Winterizing house

We live in the high country of NC where many times our weather is similar to Canada.
I shut off the water and drain the entire system including the water heater. You need to make sure you have low point drains in any of the sagging pipes.
We shut off the refrigerator, but leave the freezer on
We have never had a problem with the sumps in the dish washer or the washing machine, or any of the electronics.
make sure to leave your shower hose hanging down.
Make sure to leave all the faucets open.
Make sure to empty the dish washing soap dispenser
Do not leave any canned goods or other liquids that might freeze
Put pink stuff in all the toilets and their water tanks after draining them and in all the sink and shower traps.

jack L

You never posted where your place was. If it's located in extreme cold (i.e. guessing -10f and below) I would also be concerned with the foundation. If your place is built in sand not so much, if clay then you might come back to basement walls (if you have them) that are heaved in from the frost.

A heated basement will chase the frost from the outside of the basement walls.

We're in upstate New York. -10F is not uncommon. Alarming but not uncommon. Thank you all for such good advice.