Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 item	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Information
Number of geographic segments									3
Segment information
Net sales	$ 359.2	$ 357.8	$ 367.4	$ 361.2	$ 357.5	$ 367.5	$ 373.2	$ 329.9	$ 1,445.6	$ 1,428.1	$ 1,274.6
Operating income (loss)									123.4	116.7	114.2
Interest income									0.7	1.0	1.0
Interest expense									(24.6)	(25.8)	(22.8)
Other income (expense), net									0.8	(0.8)	2.1
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									100.3	91.1	94.5
Identifiable Assets (at end of period)	1,709.0				1,694.0				1,709.0	1,694.0	1,646.1
Long-Lived Assets (at end of period)	223.6				223.1				223.6	223.1	197.5
Capital Expenditures									30.6	22.6	24.6
Depreciation and Amortization									49.4	50.9	44.8
Intersegment sales									155.2	144.6	127.0
Number of product categories									4
Residential & commercial flow control
Segment information
Net sales									785.9	751.3	652.2
HVAC & gas
Segment information
Net sales									448.5	471.3	433.4
Drains & water re-use
Segment information
Net sales									138.8	135.3	122.2
Water quality
Segment information
Net sales									72.4	70.2	66.8
Discontinued operations
Segment information
Identifiable Assets (at end of period)					14.0					14.0	1.8
Reportable Segments
Segment information
Operating income (loss)									155.6	152.5	149.6
North America
Segment information
Net sales									835.0	810.9	785.5
Operating income (loss)									96.5	111.6	106.4
Identifiable Assets (at end of period)	810.9				814.3				810.9	814.3	871.8
Long-Lived Assets (at end of period)	80.6				74.8				80.6	74.8	77.4
Capital Expenditures									17.9	8.3	9.1
Depreciation and Amortization									19.6	18.7	17.9
Intersegment sales									5.3	3.3	3.6
North America | U.S.
Segment information
Net sales									747.4	732.9	712.2
Long-Lived Assets (at end of period)	75.1				69.9				75.1	69.9	72.4
EMEA
Segment information
Net sales									583.8	595.5	468.3
Operating income (loss)									52.6	28.7	43.7
Identifiable Assets (at end of period)	813.8				773.2				813.8	773.2	692.8
Long-Lived Assets (at end of period)	128.2				133.3				128.2	133.3	104.6
Capital Expenditures									10.8	13.6	14.8
Depreciation and Amortization									27.7	30.2	24.9
Intersegment sales									10.9	8.4	7.6
Asia
Segment information
Net sales									26.8	21.7	20.8
Operating income (loss)									6.5	12.2	(0.5)
Identifiable Assets (at end of period)	84.3				92.5				84.3	92.5	79.7
Long-Lived Assets (at end of period)	14.8				15.0				14.8	15.0	15.5
Capital Expenditures									1.9	0.7	0.7
Depreciation and Amortization									2.1	2.0	2.0
Intersegment sales									139.0	132.9	115.8
Corporate
Segment information
Operating income (loss)									$ (32.2)	$ (35.8)	$ (35.4)