I would like to install a whole house water softener in our garage (central Texas - so no freezing issues here). The house did not come with a loop and drain for this. The water heater is located in the garage but is on a platform about 3 feet above ground level. I have no problems extending the incoming water pipe to reach the softener but have a question about the drain. I do not have any type of direct drain in the garage. As far as I can tell (without opening the wall), the overflow for the water heater is tied into a sink drain inside the wall (sink is in a bathroom in the house). Question is... can the softener drain be routed above the level of the softener itself? And can I tie into the heater overflow pipe somehow (ex: add a tee and trap)?