On Wed, 9 Dec 2009 09:21:41 -0500, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

Unless the drains were clogged, why would there be any water in them? And
what little is left in the traps would have plenty of room for expansion.
What you need to do is shut off the main water supply valve, and then drain
as much water as you can from the supply pipes by turning on ALL the taps,
especially the one in the laundry sink (in the basement), if there is a tap
down there.

Plus a tap on the top floor to let air in so it drains out the bottom
as well as possible.