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Segment Information - Segment Financial Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 181,277us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 171,046us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 201,662us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 178,525us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 149,035us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 177,350us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 202,223us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 150,679us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 732,510us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 679,287us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 759,031us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Gross profit	31,378us-gaap_GrossProfit	24,386us-gaap_GrossProfit	48,869us-gaap_GrossProfit	48,722us-gaap_GrossProfit	30,566us-gaap_GrossProfit	48,909us-gaap_GrossProfit	38,659us-gaap_GrossProfit	25,422us-gaap_GrossProfit	153,355us-gaap_GrossProfit	143,556us-gaap_GrossProfit	183,736us-gaap_GrossProfit
Operating income									53,362us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	105,308us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss	95,655us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Interest expense, net									21,599us-gaap_InterestExpense	13,986us-gaap_InterestExpense	4,237us-gaap_InterestExpense
Losses on extinguishment of debt										1,296
Non-operating expense (income), net									(281)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	(100)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense	(281)us-gaap_OtherNonoperatingIncomeExpense
Provisions for income taxes									12,400us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	35,421us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	33,594us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Equity in earnings of affiliate-Climate Control									(79)	(436)	(681)
Income from continuing operations	718	(3,772)	11,134	11,643	37,473	10,250	7,486	(68)	19,723	55,141	58,786
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income									(21,365)	(14,561)	(14,371)
Chemical [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									454,902	380,669	477,813
Gross profit									66,565	46,165	97,692
Non-operating expense (income), net									(249)	(1)	(1)
Chemical [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income									51,281	87,784	82,101
Chemical [Member] \| Agricultural Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									215,523	167,614	217,329
Chemical [Member] \| Industrial Acids and Other Chemical Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									160,104	141,936	162,498
Chemical [Member] \| Mining Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									67,043	63,042	96,538
Chemical [Member] \| Other Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									12,232	8,077	1,448
Climate Control [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									265,358	285,018	266,171
Gross profit									82,443	92,907	80,981
Non-operating expense (income), net										(1)	(1)
Equity in earnings of affiliate-Climate Control									(79)	(436)	(681)
Climate Control [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income									21,675	30,386	25,834
Climate Control [Member] \| Water Source and Geothermal Heat Pumps [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									168,804	183,757	162,697
Climate Control [Member] \| Hydronic Fan Coils [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									61,307	64,541	55,812
Climate Control [Member] \| Other HVAC Products [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									35,247	36,720	47,662
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales									12,250	13,600	15,047
Gross profit									4,347	4,484	5,063
Other [Member] \| Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income									1,771	1,699	2,091
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Non-operating expense (income), net									$ (32)	$ (98)	$ (279)