Litigation (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 01, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 01, 2012 Subsequent Event [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Injury due to Asbestos [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Injury due to Asbestos [Member] Universal Predecessor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Injury due to Asbestos [Member] Universal Predecessor [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Injury due to Asbestos [Member] Universal Predecessor [Member]	Aug. 05, 2005 Injury due to Asbestos [Member] Universal Predecessor [Member] Rhodes v. A.O. Smith Corporation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Injury due to Asbestos [Member] Universal Subsidiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Injury due to Asbestos [Member] Universal Subsidiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 2007 Injury due to Asbestos [Member] Universal Subsidiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 2006 Injury due to Asbestos [Member] Universal Subsidiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 2005 Injury due to Asbestos [Member] Universal Subsidiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 2001 Injury due to Asbestos [Member] Universal Subsidiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 2000 Injury due to Asbestos [Member] Universal Subsidiary [Member]	Dec. 31, 1999 Injury due to Asbestos [Member] Universal Subsidiary [Member]
Universal Supply Group, Inc [Abstract]
Number of plaintiffs that have filed actions to date, including those whose actions have subsequently been settled or dismissed									38
Number of plaintiffs whose actions have been dismissed	1				210				34
Number of existing plaintiffs in lawsuits					7				1
Number of plaintiffs that filed actions during the period			6		2	3	2		1	1	11	6	11	5	1	2
Number of plaintiffs whose actions have been dismissed	1				210				34
Number of plaintiffs that have settled					17				3
Amount paid by defendants other than Universal				$ 3,364,500				$ 3,250,000	$ 27,500
Damages awarded by jury								10,000,000
Date jury verdict given								August 5, 2005
Indemnification [Abstract]
Number of Indemnitors		1
Minimum claim amount for indemnification		50,000
Minimum claim by single party		10,000
Indemnification period after the running of any relevant statutes of limitation		30 days
Insurance [Abstract]
Liability for asbestos claims raised by insurance company		$ 160