Method for operating a supply device for warm drinking water on the continuous flow principle, comprising a heat exchanger which has a first flow channel for drinking water and a second flow channel for a heating fluid to be heated by a heat source, a) the first flow channel being connected hydraulically via a feed pipe to a cold drinking water connection and via a discharge pipe to a warm drinking water take-off, b) the feed pipe being connected hydraulically via a circulation pipe to the discharge pipe, a circulation pump that can be activated being arranged in the circulation pipe, c) the heat source being operated in phases in a heating programme and in phases in a rest programme, where i. when the heating programme is activated, the activated heat source heats the heating fluid and drinking water is led through the first flow channel and is heated in the first flow channel by means of the heating fluid and, ii. when the rest programme is activated, the deactivated heat source does not supply heat and drinking water is not led towards the warm drinking water take-off, and characterized by the following steps: d) detecting the activation times of the rest programme; e) exploiting the activation times of the rest programme in such a way that when an activation time is present, the rest programme is initiated with an overrun (P2.1), f) wherein, during the overrun (P2.1), the circulation pump in the circulation pipe is activated and drinking water is conveyed in circulation through the circulation pipe and the first flow channel. a) the first flow channel being connected hydraulically via a feed pipe to a cold drinking water connection and via a discharge pipe to a warm drinking water take-off, b) the feed pipe being connected hydraulically via a circulation pipe to the discharge pipe, a circulation pump that can be activated being arranged in the circulation pipe, c) the heat source being operated in phases in a heating programme and in phases in a rest programme, where i. when the heating programme is activated, the activated heat source heats the heating fluid and drinking water is led through the first flow channel and is heated in the first flow channel by means of the heating fluid and, ii. when the rest programme is activated, the deactivated heat source does not supply heat and drinking water is not led towards the warm drinking water take-off, and i. when the heating programme is activated, the activated heat source heats the heating fluid and drinking water is led through the first flow channel and is heated in the first flow channel by means of the heating fluid and, ii. when the rest programme is activated, the deactivated heat source does not supply heat and drinking water is not led towards the warm drinking water take-off, and d) detecting the activation times of the rest programme; e) exploiting the activation times of the rest programme in such a way that when an activation time is present, the rest programme is initiated with an overrun (P2.1), f) wherein, during the overrun (P2.1), the circulation pump in the circulation pipe is activated and drinking water is conveyed in circulation through the circulation pipe and the first flow channel.