A method for placing an oven (12) for heat-treating preforms (13) into standby, including: a device (16) for conveying the preforms (13); at least one heating lamp (22); at least one heat-accumulation element (24, 26); and an electronic unit for controlling the heating lamps (22), characterized in that the method includes, in series: a first switching-off step (E1) which is triggered when a stop in production is determined, and in which the heating lamps (22) are completely switched off; and then a second temperature-maintaining step (E2) which is triggered after the first step (E1), and in which the heating lamps (22) are activated at a predetermined intensity in order to reheat the accumulation elements (24, 26).