The method involves measuring pressure in a sole-or cooling unit-conducting region by a firmly installed pressure sensor during continuous operation of a heat pump device (1). An alarm is triggered by an adjustable threshold valve during depression of the pressure, and the sole-or cooling unit-conducting region is automatically flushed with air and/or water. The flushing process is enabled by discharging the drinking water in the sole-conducting region, where an amount of water to be flushed is measured by a flow meter. An independent claim is also included for a heat pump device comprising a firmly installed pressure sensor.
