Damper assembly-containing connector and method of use

A damper assembly-containing connector comprising:

• a housing with an inlet and an outlet;
• a damper assembly designed to control air flow through the housing, the damper assembly including a damper rod mounted in at least one opening in the housing of the connector, the damper rod having a damper plate attached thereto, one end of the damper rod including a control arm configured to move the damper plate between a fully open position, a fully closed position, and positions therebetween;
• and
• a layer of foam insulation covering at least a portion of the housing having the at least one opening, an end portion of the damper rod extending through the foam insulation layer with the control arm positioned in a first surface profile of the foam insulation surrounding at least a portion of the housing and held in a first operating position, the surface profile allowing the control arm to be moved to a second operating position.