We have friends with lots of pipes that can sag. They disconnect the water intake (you do this anyway) and with a small pump, add RV antifreeze to the entire system . They open valves and when it flows pink, close each valve. We used to have a jet pump for water intake, and struggled many times to get it primed as the intake pipe would sometimes have a small air leak that was difficult to find. Now we have a well pump in the lake and put a 4" pvc protection pipe over the intake pipe to protect against chafing. No more worries.
We use D-Con for rodents. Never had a problem, except the year we forgot it. It's the last thing and the first when we open so kids and pets don't have access. We put mothballs around the outside perimeter; the smell is gone by spring, but we think it encourages critters to find homes elsewhere. Linens go in plastic boxes, and newspapers on the beds. Some of this is overkill but it is part of the ritual.
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