No heat in 97express

I found small hose unhooked from a black ball that was laying on floor near passenger side of the radiator.I hooked hose onto black ball and my problem was solved. Evidently its part of the vacuum that controls blower to work. I tried to affix ball to front wall by the radiator but the hose wouldn't reach. That explained it laying by radiator and not secured, cause hose had been shortened . I was happy but felt like a dummy for not noticing earlier.