You should be familiar with the parts of your BiPap machine. They include:

• A face mask, nasal mask, or nasal plugs

• The machine’s motor, which blows air into a tube

• The tubing that connects the machine’s motor to the mask or plugs

Your BiPap machine might also have other features, such as a heated humidifier.

If you are buying a BiPap machine for home use, you may want to talk with a professional who sells home medical equipment. This person can help you pick the type of BiPap machine best suited to your needs. He or she can also give you instructions about how and when to clean the masks, tubing, and other parts of the machine.

You might want to try several types of masks before deciding on the one you like best. If your mask feels tight, you may need to have it refitted.

Before you start BiPap therapy, your machine may need to be calibrated. Someone from your medical team will adjust the settings. That person is often a respiratory therapist. The settings need to be correct so that you receive the appropriate therapy. You may also get other instructions on how to prepare for your BiPap therapy.