Method for operating valve

The invention relates to a method for operating a valve (18; 38), wherein a valve element (56) of the valve (18; 38) can be moved from a first position into a second position by activation of an electrically operable actuator (20). According to the invention, the actuator (20) is activated at least once in a first time interval and is subsequently not activated in a second time interval (64), wherein a signal (62) which characterizes an abutment of the valve element (56) against the first position is determined at electrical terminals (55a, 55b) of the actuator (20). Here, an activation energy of the actuator (20) is varied in a stepped manner, wherein a threshold value (31) of the activation energy at which the valve element (56) can still just lift off from the first position, or can just no longer lift off from the first position, is determined.