I took the element out today to clean the tank but paid no attention to how it was wired. There are two screws and a red and black wire. Does it matter which wire goes where?
Thanks

Shouldn't matter. Should be 220v, which would be 110v per leg.

Both screws the same color- doesn't matter/220
One silver screw one copper - black on silver red on copper/110

No matter.

Yeah both are the same color. Thanks for the help guys! I am handyman stupid.

You must be really really bored..

Also, there's really no need to remove the element to flush the water heater. Just hook a hose up to the drain valve and pop the T&P valve so there's no suction and it will flow. If you get resistance with the water coming out, sometimes opening and closing that drain valve a few times will dislodge whatever is in there enough to flow again. Otherwise, open the valve, use an air hose to blow back into the drain hose. That will definitely jar it loose. Run the hose downhill and it should drain pretty quick. When it gets low, open the water feed and flush it some more. Let that drain. All this while bein turned off of course. When everything is draining clean, be sure and fill it up, open the valve at the tub to be sure the tank is full, then turn on the power to ensure you don't burn up the elements. People doo that all the time and say the heater is a peice of junk when it was just installer error or in your case, user error.

Sometimes a T&P valve won't seat all the way when you disengage it. . A few light taps with a small hammer or channel locks will fix that. Unless you regularly open and close them, they will get a little bunked up and need some help.