Inducer blower gasket

[quadman]

Hello, I just replaced the inducer blower assembly on my furnace and there was a fiber gasket behind the old one. Is this gasket important and if so what does it prevent? I installed the new assembly without the gasket since the old one was almost gone and the shop didn't have a replacement one.

Thanks

 

[philjafo]

Furnace manufacturers will not spend not one single solitary cent on a part that isn't needed, it would help to know the model of your furnace and a picture really helps to clear things up