Water Heaters - Question: Water Heater Problems...

I am hoping that someone with a little experience or know-how can point me in the right direction. After more than 3 years of using only about 4 gallons of water a month, my bills for the last two months show that I have used more than 14 gallons per month. I tested the meter to see if it was a billing problem...I wrote the numbers down in the am and checked later in the pm after having using no water during the day, and saw that water is being used. None of my toilets are running, or faucets leaking. Which leads me to believe it is the water heater. The discharge relief valve leads outside and I can generally hear the water flowing. It always seemed to be a trickle, but now seems to be a heavier flow. Could it be that my water heater is using, heating, and releasing more water than necessary? Is it likely that the water heater, all of a sudden is wasting in excess of 10 gallons a month? Is there an easy fix, or something I can do to return my water useage to it's previous 4 gallon per month level? I would certainly appreciate any help or advice!

You probably have a defective pressure relief valve which is allowing water to pass thru it constantly.

BTW - I doubt that you are using only 14 gal per month, the water company that supplies me bills at the # of 100 gal used.

A good way to zero in on leaks is to shut off every valve/spigot possible and read the meter and then open 1 valve at a time, reading the meter to narrow it down.