Hi There,

I woke up this morning to find my first floor tub had water with some thin - "film like", brown residue backed up into it. It was about an inch of water and it doesn't seem to drain. Recently we've had the washing machine on and last night someone took a bath in the basement bathroom... those are the only heavy increases of drain water I can think of and we don't know when the back-up came about. The first floor tub is the only one that is backing up and this is the first time its ever happened.

We have city sewers and if temperature matters at all, we had our first subzero temps all day yesterday here in chicago and most likely will today as well.

Thank you for any help!

The basement bathtub drain is your lowest spot, is it still working fine? If so the clog is further up stream. What happens to the water in the tub when you flush the toilet in that bath?

The basement drain is still working fine (all other drains in the house seem to be as well)When we flush the toilet in the bath with the clogged tub nothing happens to the water in the tub. The drain doesn't bubble or anything. The toilet in that bath drains fine as does the sink.

Thank you for your help! Looks like your in wheaton so you know the cold I'm talking about... I'm in chicago

6 below this morning, that's Chi in winter. Sounds like your clog is closer to the tub trap and before the two drains come together. Try holding a wet toewl over the overflow on the tub and then plung it with adding a bucket of really hot water added.

This is fairly easy to rectify. Remove the overflow cap right above your drain. Go to any home repair store; example Home Depot, Lowe's, Ace Hardware. Buy yourself a hand operated rodder. It's black, it has a hand crank on the side. The cable is flat, with a little spring/hook on the end. Insert it into the overflow vent. Turn the crank and push the rod through. You may have to do this several times... You will be amazed at all the hair that's in the line... I also live in the Chicago area... Good Luck & Stay Warm

Greetings guys from a Rockford transplant. Pivoman nailed it. Follow his directions and snake the drain from the overflow,(see image). You will run into thereturn bend of the trap about 18" down but crank and work your way around it and put out about 10' more. Flush with a few pans of boiling water. Good luck and thank you for rating my reply. Tom