Why run the WH over flow pan to the exterior?

[Joe Keresztury]

Here's a good one.
This is a New Home Warranty Inspection (11th month).
The Water Heater overflow pan drain line was actually run to drain into the garage right by the WH instead of terminating to the exterior. What's the use?
Instead of running the overflow line to the outside (the WH was on the exterior wall) they just elbowed it down from WH into the garage, where the owners did have that entire side of garage as storage sitting on the floor. After explaining to the owner that if their was an issue w/ the WH dripping or leaking the overflow pan drain line was routed just into the garage and would obviously cause problems w/ her possesions and that if it (drain line) was run to the exterior would prevent flooding in the garage from a WH drip or leak problem. She said oh, yeh- I've had that happen before!

[Dominic Maricic]

Not a good design!

[Joe Keresztury]

Dom, think about it. How much tougher would it have been to run the drain line thru the exterior wall that is right there.
Also, if anyone is wondering about the brick(s) in pic, it is the leftovers from construction saved by buyer and just stacked there. But the rest of that side of garage is stacked w/ personal possesions.