diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6a3a79232..62122888a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,8 +3,10 @@
 ## PyNWB 2.6.0 (Upcoming)
 
 ### Enhancements and minor changes
+- For `NWBHDF5IO()`, change the default of arg `load_namespaces` from `False` to `True`. @bendichter [#1748](https://github.com/NeurodataWithoutBorders/pynwb/pull/1748)
 - Add `NWBHDF5IO.can_read()`. @bendichter [#1703](https://github.com/NeurodataWithoutBorders/pynwb/pull/1703)
 - Add `pynwb.get_nwbfile_version()`. @bendichter [#1703](https://github.com/NeurodataWithoutBorders/pynwb/pull/1703)
+- Updated timeseries data checks to warn instead of error when reading invalid files. @stephprince [#1793](https://github.com/NeurodataWithoutBorders/pynwb/pull/1793)
 
 ## PyNWB 2.5.0 (August 18, 2023)
 
diff --git a/docs/gallery/advanced_io/linking_data.py b/docs/gallery/advanced_io/linking_data.py
index 082aa3c51..82824f6cd 100644
--- a/docs/gallery/advanced_io/linking_data.py
+++ b/docs/gallery/advanced_io/linking_data.py
@@ -6,57 +6,50 @@
 
 PyNWB supports linking between files using external links.
 
-"""
+Example Use Case: Integrating data from multiple files
+---------------------------------------------------------
 
-####################
-# Example Use Case: Integrating data from multiple files
-# ---------------------------------------------------------
-#
-# NBWContainer classes (e.g., :py:class:`~pynwb.base.TimeSeries`) support the integration of data stored in external
-# HDF5 files with NWB data files via external links. To make things more concrete, let's look at the following use
-# case. We want to simultaneously record multiple data streams during data acquisition. Using the concept of external
-# links allows us to save each data stream to an external HDF5 files during data acquisition and to
-# afterwards link the data into a single NWB:N file. In this case, each recording becomes represented by a
-# separate file-system object that can be set as read-only once the experiment is done.  In the following
-# we are using :py:meth:`~pynwb.base.TimeSeries` as an example, but the same approach works for other
-# NWBContainers as well.
-#
+NBWContainer classes (e.g., :py:class:`~pynwb.base.TimeSeries`) support the integration of data stored in external
+HDF5 files with NWB data files via external links. To make things more concrete, let's look at the following use
+case. We want to simultaneously record multiple data streams during data acquisition. Using the concept of external
+links allows us to save each data stream to an external HDF5 files during data acquisition and to
+afterwards link the data into a single NWB file. In this case, each recording becomes represented by a
+separate file-system object that can be set as read-only once the experiment is done.  In the following
+we are using :py:meth:`~pynwb.base.TimeSeries` as an example, but the same approach works for other
+NWBContainers as well.
 
-####################
-# .. tip::
-#
-#    The same strategies we use here for creating External Links also apply to Soft Links.
-#    The main difference between soft and external links is that soft links point to other
-#    objects within the same file while external links point to objects in external files.
-#
+.. tip::
 
-####################
-# .. tip::
-#
-#    In the case of :py:meth:`~pynwb.base.TimeSeries`, the uncorrected timestamps generated by the acquisition
-#    system can be stored (or linked) in the *sync* group. In the NWB:N format, hardware-recorded time data
-#    must then be corrected to a common time base (e.g., timestamps from all hardware sources aligned) before
-#    it can be included in the *timestamps* of the *TimeSeries*. This means, in the case
-#    of :py:meth:`~pynwb.base.TimeSeries` we need to be careful that we are not including data with incompatible
-#    timestamps in the same file when using external links.
-#
+    The same strategies we use here for creating External Links also apply to Soft Links.
+    The main difference between soft and external links is that soft links point to other
+    objects within the same file while external links point to objects in external files.
 
-####################
-# .. warning::
-#
-#    External links can become stale/break. Since external links are pointing to data in other files
-#    external links may become invalid any time files are modified on the file system, e.g., renamed,
-#    moved or access permissions are changed.
-#
+ .. tip::
 
-####################
-# Creating test data
-# ---------------------------
-#
-# In the following we are creating two :py:meth:`~pynwb.base.TimeSeries` each written to a separate file.
-# We then show how we can integrate these files into a single NWBFile.
+    In the case of :py:meth:`~pynwb.base.TimeSeries`, the uncorrected timestamps generated by the acquisition
+    system can be stored (or linked) in the *sync* group. In the NWB format, hardware-recorded time data
+    must then be corrected to a common time base (e.g., timestamps from all hardware sources aligned) before
+    it can be included in the *timestamps* of the *TimeSeries*. This means, in the case
+    of :py:meth:`~pynwb.base.TimeSeries` we need to be careful that we are not including data with incompatible
+    timestamps in the same file when using external links.
+
+
+.. warning::
+
+    External links can become stale/break. Since external links are pointing to data in other files
+    external links may become invalid any time files are modified on the file system, e.g., renamed,
+    moved or access permissions are changed.
+
+
+Creating test data
+---------------------------
+
+In the following we are creating two :py:meth:`~pynwb.base.TimeSeries` each written to a separate file.
+We then show how we can integrate these files into a single NWBFile.
+"""
 
 # sphinx_gallery_thumbnail_path = 'figures/gallery_thumbnails_linking_data.png'
+
 from datetime import datetime
 from uuid import uuid4
 
diff --git a/docs/gallery/advanced_io/streaming.py b/docs/gallery/advanced_io/streaming.py
index bb5c2e1d8..fb34b498b 100644
--- a/docs/gallery/advanced_io/streaming.py
+++ b/docs/gallery/advanced_io/streaming.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@
 # next, open the file
 with fs.open(s3_url, "rb") as f:
     with h5py.File(f) as file:
-        with pynwb.NWBHDF5IO(file=file, load_namespaces=True) as io:
+        with pynwb.NWBHDF5IO(file=file) as io:
             nwbfile = io.read()
             print(nwbfile.acquisition['lick_times'].time_series['lick_left_times'].data[:])
 
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
 
 from pynwb import NWBHDF5IO
 
-with NWBHDF5IO(s3_url, mode='r', load_namespaces=True, driver='ros3') as io:
+with NWBHDF5IO(s3_url, mode='r', driver='ros3') as io:
     nwbfile = io.read()
     print(nwbfile)
     print(nwbfile.acquisition['lick_times'].time_series['lick_left_times'].data[:])
diff --git a/docs/gallery/general/extensions.py b/docs/gallery/general/extensions.py
index fa4f4cbb7..66645a660 100644
--- a/docs/gallery/general/extensions.py
+++ b/docs/gallery/general/extensions.py
@@ -248,16 +248,11 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs):
 # .. note::
 #
 #     For more information on writing NWB files, see :ref:`basic_writing`.
-
-####################
-# By default, PyNWB does not use the namespaces cached in a file--you must
-# explicitly specify this. This behavior is enabled by the *load_namespaces*
-# argument to the :py:class:`~pynwb.NWBHDF5IO` constructor.
-
-with NWBHDF5IO("cache_spec_example.nwb", mode="r", load_namespaces=True) as io:
-    nwbfile = io.read()
-
-####################
+#
+# By default, if a namespace is not already loaded, PyNWB loads the namespace cached in
+# the file. To disable this, set ``load_namespaces=False`` in the
+# :py:class:`~pynwb.NWBHDF5IO` constructor.
+#
 # .. _MultiContainerInterface:
 #
 # Creating and using a custom MultiContainerInterface
diff --git a/docs/gallery/general/plot_read_basics.py b/docs/gallery/general/plot_read_basics.py
index bba380092..c4a829d75 100644
--- a/docs/gallery/general/plot_read_basics.py
+++ b/docs/gallery/general/plot_read_basics.py
@@ -104,14 +104,14 @@
 
 filepath = "sub-P11HMH_ses-20061101_ecephys+image.nwb"
 # Open the file in read mode "r",
-io = NWBHDF5IO(filepath, mode="r", load_namespaces=True)
+io = NWBHDF5IO(filepath, mode="r")
 nwbfile = io.read()
 nwbfile
 
 #######################################
 # :py:class:`~pynwb.NWBHDF5IO` can also be used as a context manager:
 
-with NWBHDF5IO(filepath, mode="r", load_namespaces=True) as io2:
+with NWBHDF5IO(filepath, mode="r") as io2:
     nwbfile2 = io2.read()
 
     # data accessible here
diff --git a/src/pynwb/__init__.py b/src/pynwb/__init__.py
index 710f55ee8..7cf32e074 100644
--- a/src/pynwb/__init__.py
+++ b/src/pynwb/__init__.py
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 import os.path
 from pathlib import Path
 from copy import deepcopy
-from warnings import warn
 import h5py
 
 from hdmf.spec import NamespaceCatalog
@@ -244,8 +243,9 @@ def can_read(path: str):
              'doc': 'the mode to open the HDF5 file with, one of ("w", "r", "r+", "a", "w-", "x")',
              'default': 'r'},
             {'name': 'load_namespaces', 'type': bool,
-             'doc': 'whether or not to load cached namespaces from given path - not applicable in write mode',
-             'default': False},
+             'doc': ('whether or not to load cached namespaces from given path - not applicable in write mode '
+                     'or when `manager` is not None or when `extensions` is not None'),
+             'default': True},
             {'name': 'manager', 'type': BuildManager, 'doc': 'the BuildManager to use for I/O', 'default': None},
             {'name': 'extensions', 'type': (str, TypeMap, list),
              'doc': 'a path to a namespace, a TypeMap, or a list consisting paths to namespaces and TypeMaps',
@@ -261,15 +261,10 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs):
             popargs('path', 'mode', 'manager', 'extensions', 'load_namespaces',
                     'file', 'comm', 'driver', 'herd_path', kwargs)
         # Define the BuildManager to use
-        if load_namespaces:
-            if manager is not None:
-                warn("loading namespaces from file - ignoring 'manager'")
-            if extensions is not None:
-                warn("loading namespaces from file - ignoring 'extensions' argument")
-            # namespaces are not loaded when creating an NWBHDF5IO object in write mode
-            if 'w' in mode or mode == 'x':
-                raise ValueError("cannot load namespaces from file when writing to it")
+        if mode in 'wx' or manager is not None or extensions is not None:
+            load_namespaces = False
 
+        if load_namespaces:
             tm = get_type_map()
             super().load_namespaces(tm, path, file=file_obj, driver=driver)
             manager = BuildManager(tm)
diff --git a/src/pynwb/base.py b/src/pynwb/base.py
index bec8903d5..5514288e8 100644
--- a/src/pynwb/base.py
+++ b/src/pynwb/base.py
@@ -174,15 +174,23 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs):
         timestamps = args_to_process['timestamps']
         if timestamps is not None:
             if self.rate is not None:
-                raise ValueError('Specifying rate and timestamps is not supported.')
+                self._error_on_new_warn_on_construct(
+                    error_msg='Specifying rate and timestamps is not supported.'
+                )
             if self.starting_time is not None:
-                raise ValueError('Specifying starting_time and timestamps is not supported.')
+                self._error_on_new_warn_on_construct(
+                    error_msg='Specifying starting_time and timestamps is not supported.'
+                )
             self.fields['timestamps'] = timestamps
             self.timestamps_unit = self.__time_unit
             self.interval = 1
             if isinstance(timestamps, TimeSeries):
                 timestamps.__add_link('timestamp_link', self)
         elif self.rate is not None:
+            if self.rate <= 0:
+                self._error_on_new_warn_on_construct(
+                    error_msg='Rate must be a positive value.'
+                )
             if self.starting_time is None:  # override default if rate is provided but not starting time
                 self.starting_time = 0.0
             self.starting_time_unit = self.__time_unit
diff --git a/src/pynwb/validate.py b/src/pynwb/validate.py
index 23b3aee6f..62aa41426 100644
--- a/src/pynwb/validate.py
+++ b/src/pynwb/validate.py
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ def validate(**kwargs):
                         file=sys.stderr,
                     )
         else:
+            io_kwargs.update(load_namespaces=False)
             namespaces_to_validate = [CORE_NAMESPACE]
 
         if namespace is not None:
diff --git a/tests/back_compat/test_import_structure.py b/tests/back_compat/test_import_structure.py
index e5f931f5d..79d4f6ad0 100644
--- a/tests/back_compat/test_import_structure.py
+++ b/tests/back_compat/test_import_structure.py
@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@ def test_outer_import_structure(self):
             "spec",
             "testing",
             "validate",
-            "warn",
         ]
         for member in expected_structure:
             self.assertIn(member=member, container=current_structure)
diff --git a/tests/back_compat/test_read.py b/tests/back_compat/test_read.py
index 919ae6bde..792d26e7a 100644
--- a/tests/back_compat/test_read.py
+++ b/tests/back_compat/test_read.py
@@ -31,6 +31,16 @@ class TestReadOldVersions(TestCase):
                                "- expected an array of shape '[None]', got non-array data 'one publication'")],
     }
 
+    def get_io(self, path):
+        """Get an NWBHDF5IO object for the given path."""
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
+            warnings.filterwarnings(
+                "ignore",
+                message=r"Ignoring cached namespace .*",
+                category=UserWarning,
+            )
+            return NWBHDF5IO(str(path), 'r')
+
     def test_read(self):
         """Test reading and validating all NWB files in the same folder as this file.
 
@@ -43,7 +53,7 @@ def test_read(self):
             with self.subTest(file=f.name):
                 with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True) as warnings_on_read:
                     warnings.simplefilter("always")
-                    with NWBHDF5IO(str(f), 'r', load_namespaces=True) as io:
+                    with self.get_io(f) as io:
                         errors = validate(io)
                         io.read()
                         for w in warnings_on_read:
@@ -69,28 +79,28 @@ def test_read(self):
     def test_read_timeseries_no_data(self):
         """Test that a TimeSeries written without data is read with data set to the default value."""
         f = Path(__file__).parent / '1.5.1_timeseries_no_data.nwb'
-        with NWBHDF5IO(str(f), 'r') as io:
+        with self.get_io(f) as io:
             read_nwbfile = io.read()
             np.testing.assert_array_equal(read_nwbfile.acquisition['test_timeseries'].data, TimeSeries.DEFAULT_DATA)
 
     def test_read_timeseries_no_unit(self):
         """Test that an ImageSeries written without unit is read with unit set to the default value."""
         f = Path(__file__).parent / '1.5.1_timeseries_no_unit.nwb'
-        with NWBHDF5IO(str(f), 'r') as io:
+        with self.get_io(f) as io:
             read_nwbfile = io.read()
             self.assertEqual(read_nwbfile.acquisition['test_timeseries'].unit, TimeSeries.DEFAULT_UNIT)
 
     def test_read_imageseries_no_data(self):
         """Test that an ImageSeries written without data is read with data set to the default value."""
         f = Path(__file__).parent / '1.5.1_imageseries_no_data.nwb'
-        with NWBHDF5IO(str(f), 'r') as io:
+        with self.get_io(f) as io:
             read_nwbfile = io.read()
             np.testing.assert_array_equal(read_nwbfile.acquisition['test_imageseries'].data, ImageSeries.DEFAULT_DATA)
 
     def test_read_imageseries_no_unit(self):
         """Test that an ImageSeries written without unit is read with unit set to the default value."""
         f = Path(__file__).parent / '1.5.1_imageseries_no_unit.nwb'
-        with NWBHDF5IO(str(f), 'r') as io:
+        with self.get_io(f) as io:
             read_nwbfile = io.read()
             self.assertEqual(read_nwbfile.acquisition['test_imageseries'].unit, ImageSeries.DEFAULT_UNIT)
 
@@ -100,7 +110,7 @@ def test_read_imageseries_non_external_format(self):
         f = Path(__file__).parent / fbase
         expected_warning = self.expected_warnings[fbase][0]
         with self.assertWarnsWith(UserWarning, expected_warning):
-            with NWBHDF5IO(str(f), 'r') as io:
+            with self.get_io(f) as io:
                 read_nwbfile = io.read()
                 self.assertEqual(read_nwbfile.acquisition['test_imageseries'].format, "tiff")
 
@@ -110,13 +120,13 @@ def test_read_imageseries_nonmatch_starting_frame(self):
         f = Path(__file__).parent / fbase
         expected_warning = self.expected_warnings[fbase][0]
         with self.assertWarnsWith(UserWarning, expected_warning):
-            with NWBHDF5IO(str(f), 'r') as io:
+            with self.get_io(f) as io:
                 read_nwbfile = io.read()
                 np.testing.assert_array_equal(read_nwbfile.acquisition['test_imageseries'].starting_frame, [1, 2, 3])
 
     def test_read_subject_no_age__reference(self):
         """Test that reading a Subject without an age__reference set with NWB schema 2.5.0 sets the value to None"""
         f = Path(__file__).parent / '2.2.0_subject_no_age__reference.nwb'
-        with NWBHDF5IO(str(f), 'r') as io:
+        with self.get_io(f) as io:
             read_nwbfile = io.read()
             self.assertIsNone(read_nwbfile.subject.age__reference)
diff --git a/tests/read_dandi/test_read_dandi.py b/tests/read_dandi/test_read_dandi.py
index 0e0698d77..f9dafd938 100644
--- a/tests/read_dandi/test_read_dandi.py
+++ b/tests/read_dandi/test_read_dandi.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def read_first_nwb_asset():
         s3_url = first_asset.get_content_url(follow_redirects=1, strip_query=True)
 
         try:
-            with NWBHDF5IO(path=s3_url, load_namespaces=True, driver="ros3") as io:
+            with NWBHDF5IO(path=s3_url, driver="ros3") as io:
                 io.read()
         except Exception as e:
             print(traceback.format_exc())
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_base.py b/tests/unit/test_base.py
index 805f946ec..899628190 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_base.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_base.py
@@ -405,6 +405,63 @@ def test_get_data_in_units(self):
         ts = mock_TimeSeries(data=[1., 2., 3.])
         assert_array_equal(ts.get_data_in_units(), [1., 2., 3.])
 
+    def test_non_positive_rate(self):
+        with self.assertRaisesWith(ValueError, 'Rate must be a positive value.'):
+            TimeSeries(name='test_ts', data=list(), unit='volts', rate=-1.0)
+        with self.assertRaisesWith(ValueError, 'Rate must be a positive value.'):
+            TimeSeries(name='test_ts1', data=list(), unit='volts', rate=0.0)
+
+    def test_file_with_non_positive_rate_in_construct_mode(self):
+        """Test that UserWarning is raised when rate is 0 or negative
+         while being in construct mode (i.e,. on data read)."""
+        obj = TimeSeries.__new__(TimeSeries,
+                                 container_source=None,
+                                 parent=None,
+                                 object_id="test",
+                                 in_construct_mode=True)
+        with self.assertWarnsWith(warn_type=UserWarning, exc_msg='Rate must be a positive value.'):
+            obj.__init__(
+                name="test_ts",
+                data=list(),
+                unit="volts",
+                rate=-1.0
+            )
+
+    def test_file_with_rate_and_timestamps_in_construct_mode(self):
+        """Test that UserWarning is raised when rate and timestamps are both specified
+         while being in construct mode (i.e,. on data read)."""
+        obj = TimeSeries.__new__(TimeSeries,
+                                 container_source=None,
+                                 parent=None,
+                                 object_id="test",
+                                 in_construct_mode=True)
+        with self.assertWarnsWith(warn_type=UserWarning, exc_msg='Specifying rate and timestamps is not supported.'):
+            obj.__init__(
+                name="test_ts",
+                data=[11, 12, 13, 14, 15],
+                unit="volts",
+                rate=1.0,
+                timestamps=[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
+            )
+
+    def test_file_with_starting_time_and_timestamps_in_construct_mode(self):
+        """Test that UserWarning is raised when starting_time and timestamps are both specified
+         while being in construct mode (i.e,. on data read)."""
+        obj = TimeSeries.__new__(TimeSeries,
+                                 container_source=None,
+                                 parent=None,
+                                 object_id="test",
+                                 in_construct_mode=True)
+        with self.assertWarnsWith(warn_type=UserWarning,
+                                  exc_msg='Specifying starting_time and timestamps is not supported.'):
+            obj.__init__(
+                name="test_ts",
+                data=[11, 12, 13, 14, 15],
+                unit="volts",
+                starting_time=1.0,
+                timestamps=[1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
+            )
+
 
 class TestImage(TestCase):
     def test_init(self):
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_file.py b/tests/unit/test_file.py
index c9bd98ad0..756009ff3 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_file.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_file.py
@@ -527,6 +527,7 @@ def test_subject_age_duration(self):
 
 
 class TestCacheSpec(TestCase):
+    """Test whether the file can be written and read when caching the spec."""
 
     def setUp(self):
         self.path = 'unittest_cached_spec.nwb'
@@ -535,18 +536,20 @@ def tearDown(self):
         remove_test_file(self.path)
 
     def test_simple(self):
-        nwbfile = NWBFile(' ', ' ',
+        nwbfile = NWBFile('sess_desc', 'identifier',
                           datetime.now(tzlocal()),
                           file_create_date=datetime.now(tzlocal()),
                           institution='University of California, San Francisco',
                           lab='Chang Lab')
         with NWBHDF5IO(self.path, 'w') as io:
             io.write(nwbfile)
-        with NWBHDF5IO(self.path, 'r', load_namespaces=True) as reader:
+        with NWBHDF5IO(self.path, 'r') as reader:
             nwbfile = reader.read()
+            assert nwbfile.session_description == "sess_desc"
 
 
 class TestNoCacheSpec(TestCase):
+    """Test whether the file can be written and read when not caching the spec."""
 
     def setUp(self):
         self.path = 'unittest_cached_spec.nwb'
@@ -555,7 +558,7 @@ def tearDown(self):
         remove_test_file(self.path)
 
     def test_simple(self):
-        nwbfile = NWBFile(' ', ' ',
+        nwbfile = NWBFile('sess_desc', 'identifier',
                           datetime.now(tzlocal()),
                           file_create_date=datetime.now(tzlocal()),
                           institution='University of California, San Francisco',
@@ -563,8 +566,9 @@ def test_simple(self):
         with NWBHDF5IO(self.path, 'w') as io:
             io.write(nwbfile, cache_spec=False)
 
-        with NWBHDF5IO(self.path, 'r', load_namespaces=True) as reader:
+        with NWBHDF5IO(self.path, 'r') as reader:
             nwbfile = reader.read()
+            assert nwbfile.session_description == "sess_desc"
 
 
 class TestTimestampsRefDefault(TestCase):
diff --git a/tests/validation/test_validate.py b/tests/validation/test_validate.py
index 74ce0992c..6aa2ee25e 100644
--- a/tests/validation/test_validate.py
+++ b/tests/validation/test_validate.py
@@ -199,64 +199,54 @@ class TestValidateFunction(TestCase):
     # 1.0.3_nwbfile.nwb has cached "core" specification
     # 1.1.2_nwbfile.nwb has cached "core" and "hdmf-common" specificaitions
 
+    def get_io(self, path):
+        """Get an NWBHDF5IO object for the given path, ignoring the warning about ignoring cached namespaces."""
+        with warnings.catch_warnings():
+            warnings.filterwarnings(
+                "ignore",
+                message=r"Ignoring cached namespace .*",
+                category=UserWarning,
+            )
+            return NWBHDF5IO(str(path), 'r')
+
     def test_validate_io_no_cache(self):
         """Test that validating a file with no cached spec against the core namespace succeeds."""
-        with NWBHDF5IO('tests/back_compat/1.0.2_nwbfile.nwb', 'r') as io:
+        with self.get_io('tests/back_compat/1.0.2_nwbfile.nwb') as io:
             errors = validate(io)
             self.assertEqual(errors, [])
 
     def test_validate_io_no_cache_bad_ns(self):
         """Test that validating a file with no cached spec against a specified, unknown namespace fails."""
-        with NWBHDF5IO('tests/back_compat/1.0.2_nwbfile.nwb', 'r') as io:
+        with self.get_io('tests/back_compat/1.0.2_nwbfile.nwb') as io:
             with self.assertRaisesWith(KeyError, "\"'notfound' not a namespace\""):
                 validate(io, 'notfound')
 
     def test_validate_io_cached(self):
         """Test that validating a file with cached spec against its cached namespace succeeds."""
-        with NWBHDF5IO('tests/back_compat/1.1.2_nwbfile.nwb', 'r') as io:
+        with self.get_io('tests/back_compat/1.1.2_nwbfile.nwb') as io:
             errors = validate(io)
             self.assertEqual(errors, [])
 
     def test_validate_io_cached_extension(self):
         """Test that validating a file with cached spec against its cached namespaces succeeds."""
-        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True):
-            warnings.filterwarnings(
-                "ignore",
-                message=r"Ignoring cached namespace .*",
-                category=UserWarning,
-            )
-            with NWBHDF5IO('tests/back_compat/2.1.0_nwbfile_with_extension.nwb', 'r', load_namespaces=True) as io:
-                errors = validate(io)
-                self.assertEqual(errors, [])
+        with self.get_io('tests/back_compat/2.1.0_nwbfile_with_extension.nwb') as io:
+            errors = validate(io)
+            self.assertEqual(errors, [])
 
     def test_validate_io_cached_extension_pass_ns(self):
         """Test that validating a file with cached extension spec against the extension namespace succeeds."""
-        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True):
-            warnings.filterwarnings(
-                "ignore",
-                message=r"Ignoring cached namespace .*",
-                category=UserWarning,
-            )
-            with NWBHDF5IO('tests/back_compat/2.1.0_nwbfile_with_extension.nwb', 'r', load_namespaces=True) as io:
-                errors = validate(io, 'ndx-testextension')
-                self.assertEqual(errors, [])
+        with self.get_io('tests/back_compat/2.1.0_nwbfile_with_extension.nwb') as io:
+            errors = validate(io, 'ndx-testextension')
+            self.assertEqual(errors, [])
 
     def test_validate_io_cached_core_with_io(self):
         """
         For back-compatability, test that validating a file with cached extension spec against the core
         namespace succeeds when using the `io` + `namespace` keywords.
         """
-        with warnings.catch_warnings(record=True):
-            warnings.filterwarnings(
-                "ignore",
-                message=r"Ignoring cached namespace .*",
-                category=UserWarning,
-            )
-            with NWBHDF5IO(
-                path='tests/back_compat/2.1.0_nwbfile_with_extension.nwb', mode='r', load_namespaces=True
-            ) as io:
-                results = validate(io=io, namespace="core")
-                self.assertEqual(results, [])
+        with self.get_io(path='tests/back_compat/2.1.0_nwbfile_with_extension.nwb') as io:
+            results = validate(io=io, namespace="core")
+            self.assertEqual(results, [])
 
     def test_validate_file_cached_extension(self):
         """
@@ -310,13 +300,13 @@ def test_validate_file_cached_no_cache_bad_ns(self):
 
     def test_validate_io_cached_bad_ns(self):
         """Test that validating a file with cached spec against a specified, unknown namespace fails."""
-        with NWBHDF5IO('tests/back_compat/1.1.2_nwbfile.nwb', 'r') as io:
+        with self.get_io('tests/back_compat/1.1.2_nwbfile.nwb') as io:
             with self.assertRaisesWith(KeyError, "\"'notfound' not a namespace\""):
                 validate(io, 'notfound')
 
     def test_validate_io_cached_hdmf_common(self):
         """Test that validating a file with cached spec against the hdmf-common namespace fails."""
-        with NWBHDF5IO('tests/back_compat/1.1.2_nwbfile.nwb', 'r') as io:
+        with self.get_io('tests/back_compat/1.1.2_nwbfile.nwb') as io:
             # TODO this error should not be different from the error when using the validate script above
             msg = "builder must have data type defined with attribute 'data_type'"
             with self.assertRaisesWith(ValueError, msg):