Stuck Sparge Frustrations

[KUbrew]

I have brewed about 20 AG batches and I am now starting to have problems with my sparges sticking. I have a 5 gallon cooler with a SS braid, I usually mash about 1.5qt/lb. I have never had any problems with stuck sparges in the past, but about 5 batches ago, I noticed that they were running really slow toward the end of my first and second runnings. I used to do a lot of wheat recipes and never had any problems. When it started I didn't think much about it, I bought some rice hulls and started throwing a few hand fulls in with each batch. Those didn't help, so I replaced my braid because I thought it may be collapsing as it was showing some wear and tear. That didn't help either. On my last batch, BM Centennial Blonde, I had the sparge stick so many times I lost count. I brewed this last December with no problems sparging at all. I'm at a loss as to why this is occurring now, I even slowed my runnings by only opening by valve 1/4 of the way.

Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[archiefl98]

Odd that it happened after a while and is still happening with a new braid. FWIW I had major problems with stuck sparges using a braid from a sing supply line. I changed it out to a 1" x 18" water heater hose braid ($6 at home depot) and haven't had a stuck sparge since. (Not even on my wheat recipes)

 

[Want2Brew]

Has the crush of your grain changed? A finer crush is the first thing that comes to my mind.

 

[KUbrew]

Has the crush of your grain changed? A finer crush is the first thing that comes to my mind.

I get my grain from BMW, so I don't have much control over it. But I haven't noticed an appreciable difference just looking at it.