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There are some ways to prevent an untimely dead battery by maintaining it’s condition. Power tool battery replacement can get expensive if the battery life is expiring before it should.

Keep the battery away from heat at all times to prolong its life. Heat can be very damaging to a rechargeable battery. Storing them in a garage isn't such a bad idea, it’s where and how you recharge the battery that is important. Charge the battery in a cool place. The charging will build up heat, so it is also a good idea to run a fan on the battery during the charging process.

Batteries don't necessarily need to be run all the way down before charging. This won't affect the life of the battery. Over-charging is more detrimental to a battery. Make sure not to leave it on the charger for an extended period of time.

Hand tool battery replacement will be inevitable. Since you know that you will have to replace a battery eventually, you may as will purchase one to have on hand for a back up. Most power tools come with two batteries but many handheld battery operated tools do not. It is a comfort knowing that you have an extra battery on hand in case the old one goes out.

There are three main types of rechargeable batteries for power tools. Nickel Cadmium are the first rechargeable batteries. They can take a lot of wear and tear and can stand to be stored for long periods of time without being used. The downside to Nickel Cadmium is that they are not environmentally friendly and are typically bulky and heavy.

Lithium batteries are small and lightweight. They have a long battery life, so your tool battery replacement won't be as frequent. The downside to these is that they don't store for a long time very well with infrequent use.

Nickel Metal Hydride batteries have more power than either of the other options but lose their charge quickly if not being used. Every power tool has an option in each style battery. Price and the amount of use will strongly determine the battery you choose.