SImilar situation for me in Michigan. DUe to medical issues I am physically limited. I did drain all the water including the water heater. Nothing in the toilet. So only the lines have some water. I never thought about leaving the faucets open to allow for expansion - seems good. I've never blown out lines, always used the pink stuff. Still need to buy some, but cannot drive yet. I was hoping to use it over Thanksgiving, but my recovery seems too slow to allow that. I can't reach the water heater bypass valves. Need to find someone to do that. May hit 19 here next Monday night, and be below freezing for 48 hours, 20 degrees below normal.