Opening the Cottage
Before restoring normal water service, look at exposed piping and equipment for anything obviously out of place. Bring water pressure back gradually where the system allows it, then check under sinks, around toilets, near the pressure tank, around the water heater and anywhere plumbing runs through colder areas.
Listen to the pump as well. If it continues running, cycles unusually often or cannot build normal pressure, shut the system down rather than allowing it to operate indefinitely while you search for the cause.
Closing the Cottage
A proper fall shutdown considers more than the main water valve. Water can remain in fixture traps, low sections of piping, water heaters, pumps, pressure equipment, toilets and appliance connections. Every property is a little different, which is why a generic one-step winterization procedure does not work equally well everywhere.
Taking time to understand where water can remain can prevent a cracked pipe or damaged component from becoming the first project of the next cottage season.